The Most Surprising Things About America, According To An Indian International Studenthttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-weirdest-things-about-america-2013-8/comments
en-usWed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500Fri, 09 Dec 2016 23:18:38 -0500Gus Lubinhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/523b609b6bb3f791777a980bJDThu, 19 Sep 2013 16:37:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/523b609b6bb3f791777a980b
The "tipping system" is NOT a custom, it is peer pressure and bullying, and a greedy business culture of maximizing profits while paying workers minimum wages.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/523717e36bb3f7ca4fdca73aCyrus from Saint PaulMon, 16 Sep 2013 10:38:27 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/523717e36bb3f7ca4fdca73a
Bull. Poor people are not in any way "hidden" in the United States. What nonsense.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52331d516bb3f71f3cc939cdTyFri, 13 Sep 2013 10:12:33 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52331d516bb3f71f3cc939cd
Shit you can have great life when Americans have unlimited credit. Then if you ever get short on cash to pay the American credit card, you just attack another country to steal their resources. While spewing out Patriotic nonsensehttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232c2f36bb3f77e0e0768baFreeUlyssesFri, 13 Sep 2013 03:46:59 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232c2f36bb3f77e0e0768ba
"Aside from healthcare, lower class (economic) Americans have access to most things."
Including the ability to make as much money as they would like, so yeah, access to everything. I've personally known 6 friends that started businesses when they were young, with no money of their own, no riches from mom and dad, and have become millionaires themselves, as well as the teams they built around them. Unfortunately, most of our poor are busy wondering what the new Nike's will look like, and how much they can blast Lil Wayne at the party Saturday night. But, ultimately, anyone in American, CAN make all the money they wish, no excuses. Performance overcomes a criminal background, heritage, everything. You perform, you earn. You spend less than you earn, then you can invest. I've yet to find a single able bodied person that can show me how they can NOT improve their lot, if they do the basic steps laid out. It's a choice to stay poor in America, if you have any semblance of health and avg intelligence.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232c135eab8ea3562966709FreeUlyssesFri, 13 Sep 2013 03:39:33 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232c135eab8ea3562966709
What the young intern doesn't understand, is that prices are set merely based on the cost of manufacturing. He needs to study supply and demand, elasticity, etc. He would probably enjoy the intricacies of the math and how much buying is tied to human psychology as much as anything, but he just probably hasn't been exposed to it. Perhaps the vendors and stores in India that he knew, did not have robust market research teams analyzing buying behaviors, perceived value, etc. Imagine what his mind will think when he finds out the generic rice krispies, at half the price, come out of the same plant as the branded cereal.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232bf63ecad04510a27082bFreeUlyssesFri, 13 Sep 2013 03:31:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232bf63ecad04510a27082b
Do you believe yourself, an A student I'm sure, better than the students that skipped class and made an F while you were trying to excel? Did you make your A's because you desired to be better, or did they just magically fall out of the sky on to your report card like pixie dust?
Americans exceptional ism isn't born of a desire to think ourselves better, it's born of a striving to be better. The American experiment changed the course of human history, and has helped lift more people out of poverty than any other culture and system. And that was not accidental. Our system was very deliberately designed, and fought for by men who risked their lives and fortunes to create a country and system that was indeed better. They succeeded. If you think that American is indeed not better, I would encourage you to go pay taxes to that country that you feel is our superior.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232bd27ecad047f0c270818FreeUlyssesFri, 13 Sep 2013 03:22:15 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232bd27ecad047f0c270818
I've heard many blaming fast food for the obesity issue in poor Americans, and I must disagree. It's laziness and choice. The poor can peel a sack of potatoes and carrots just as cheaply as buy McDonalds, but they choose not to because of the effort, not the economics. When I was a kid, and I'm not that old, we peeled our own veggies, shucked corn (still .25/ear), made biscuits from scratch, not Pillsbury. People choose fast food because its EASY. It's a cultural thing.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232bb3feab8ea9756966705FreeUlyssesFri, 13 Sep 2013 03:14:07 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232bb3feab8ea9756966705
I have to agree with Brent. Girls were ready to go wild in college. Sex was going on all over the place. My sons, now teen, come up lamenting how many skanky girls there are in high school, willing to text pictures of their body parts, twerk in front of the whole school, and sleep around plenty. They don't want that. They want a hot girl, and they want sex, but not promiscuity, and there seems to be plenty of it. I think maybe the girls just weren't interested in the tech geek Indian intern perhaps, but he should ask the school middle linebacker how much tail he was getting.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232b8b56bb3f778030768a5FreeUlyssesFri, 13 Sep 2013 03:03:17 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232b8b56bb3f778030768a5
jeffcoq - I've heard this for decades. I grew up poor, from a crime-ridden part of Tampa. I had the same teachers as many who have remained in generational poverty. I played on the same little league teams as them, had the same teachers, the same football coaches to serve as mentors, on down the line. I went to a school that was mixed white, black, hispanic, I'm the latter. When my sons got to football age school, he was one of only two non-blacks on the team, and he was the only non-black in his school. Just for context. But the point is, I, and my siblings, and all of our kids, have studied and done well. engineers, lawyers, business leaders, etc. We all had the exact same teachers and public schools as our friends that grew up in the bad neighborhood. The only think different was our parents, and the ideals we lived by. When I was a baby I lived in a cardboard box. My parents had nothing, but they both worked two jobs, put themselves through college with no parental help. Yes, our public schools are lousy at educating poor people, because they are lousy at educating all people. But it's not their burden. It's the individual's burden to get educated, it's the parents burden to instill that in the kids. It's not up to the schools or throwing billions to the govt to 'fix' our poor folks. That's insulting to think that's what they need. Libraries are free, and I've never seen a single church turn away a family's request for materials to educate their kids.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232b6c5ecad04d603270821FreeUlyssesFri, 13 Sep 2013 02:55:01 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232b6c5ecad04d603270821
Andre, so why are hundreds of "doctors without borders", dentists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals annually going to south american to help the poor, but I don't see Brazilian doctors setting up clinics in USA, if the healthcare is so good there as you've mentioned in several posts. Me thinks you are pushing an agenda, to suggest there are no healthcare problems in Brazil.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232801b6bb3f71a0f0768c6AfricanusThu, 12 Sep 2013 23:01:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5232801b6bb3f71a0f0768c6
I seriously doubt your last sentence was his thesis, but let's go with it. Why not stop the never-ending criticism and just recognize the fact that life in America is actually pretty good, especially when your frame of reference is a developing country like India? What is it with Westerners that makes them so determined to constantly undermine and belittle their own societies?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52327f556bb3f7d30c0768acAfricanusThu, 12 Sep 2013 22:58:29 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52327f556bb3f7d30c0768ac
Thanks for an outsider's perspective. I'm so tired of the never-ending stream of criticism from the American Left, who apparently can think of nothing else to talk about besides America's racism, sexism, bigotry, homophobia, and economic injustice (whatever that means). It's exhausting to deal with their infantile provincialism.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52311a6deab8eafb7ca48e70AmericanoWed, 11 Sep 2013 21:35:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52311a6deab8eafb7ca48e70
What a load of steaming guano! Abundant oversimplification and not much else. Kudos to the techie and to the Business Insider for this marvelous insider job!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/523076ea6bb3f77233b48620HeartsMindsEarsWed, 11 Sep 2013 09:58:02 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/523076ea6bb3f77233b48620
This article is pure propaganda.
"An almost-classless society: I've noticed that most Americans roughly have the same standard of living. Everybody has access to ample food, everybody shops at the same supermarkets, malls, stores, etc. I've seen plumbers, construction workers and janitors driving their own sedans, which was quite difficult for me to digest at first since I came from a country where construction workers and plumbers lived hand to mouth."
"Also, (almost) all sections of society are roughly equal."
Laughable. The U.S. has some of the worst income inequality in the industrial world. It's just above Turkey.
“The top decile share in 2012 is equal to 50.4 percent, a level higher than any other year since 1917 and even surpasses 1928, the peak of stock market bubble in the ‘roaring’ 1920s,” Berkeley Emmanuel Saez economist wrote in a recent study.
The reason the working class can afford Sedans and such is because of credit. In 2012, the average American household with at least one credit card had approximately $16,000 in credit-card debt. The myth of the "American Dream" is barely keeping afloat on mountains and mountains of debt. The bubble will soon burst, and we'll see the American "prosperity" exactly for what it has been all along: a MYTH.
"Almost every single person in America has access to basic food, clothing, water and sanitation."
If you live in the Silicon Valley, this might be true. But pretty much anywhere else, it's sheer fantasy. 1 out of 4 children is in poverty. According to UNICEF, child poverty in the U.S. is the 2nd worst in the so-called "developed" world. Only Romania has more child poverty. 46.2 million Americans were in poverty in 2010--15% of the ENTIRE POPULATION--and it's only gotten worse since then. Over 630,000 Americans are homeless. That's a homeless population the size of Boston. The Silicon Valley is about as representative of the U.S. as Bollywood is of India.
This article is pure, utter propaganda.
I wouldn't expect anything more in Business Insider, however.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/523024df6bb3f75c1bb4860fthe FactWed, 11 Sep 2013 04:07:59 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/523024df6bb3f75c1bb4860f
Ok... how about this:
A country where all the citizens are Blind on one Eye. One man travels to Another Country where people are normal - by normal I mean can see with both the eyes..
The guy feels the country is weird and also awesome because he has never seen a person with both eyes working....
Sounds Familiar?
Lame Article.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522fd1abeab8ea3259897f4fCassandraTue, 10 Sep 2013 22:12:59 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522fd1abeab8ea3259897f4f
Your statements remind me of something a person who has never had to work for their money might say. I got straight A's all throughout school, but I still needed a government grant to help pay for my college. You shouldn't be so close minded.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522e570b69bedd446022b6aeCaniIcanMon, 09 Sep 2013 19:17:31 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522e570b69bedd446022b6ae
my dear friend, try, nescafe :) it takes just little than 2 minutes :)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522e56a9eab8ea3d4722b6aaCaniIcanMon, 09 Sep 2013 19:15:53 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522e56a9eab8ea3d4722b6aa
well Gus lubin, why not share my comment as another article? i don't need my photo. i don't need my name to be published on a famous platform like BI - you know i don't like to flaunt [even though i am an indian].
but now, the problem is, many people would form their perception [as already has happened with some of my classmates] about Indians and Americans based on Aniruddha's article - which is not right. and by publishing his article you have contributed to the creation of that misconception. Why not let readers see other side of a gross generalization as well?? otherwise, they would not know what other Indians have experienced about india and america - two great countries.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522e5308ecad046024ba2276CaniIcanMon, 09 Sep 2013 19:00:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522e5308ecad046024ba2276
Well when he says , 'This may be biased/wrong' it applies to the whole article.
People like him generalise things so easily and ,thus,for rest of the world, create a very different perception of things they have experienced.
and i am not saying because i am an indian. i am saying it because its about the context.
when he says - 'This is different compared to India where people flaunt their riches'
really? In my community there are hundreds of multimillinaires who live very simple life. many of them are real life rags to riches stories. you want to know how do they celebrate their birth days ? they don't go to strip clubs, don't buy drugs and alcohol. they distribute food to orphan kids, donate it to charity, organize blood donation camps, etc
I am really sorry for this guy. it shows what his parents have put him through.
"
People take pride in their hard work and usually do not cheat. This is different from students from India
"
I have never cheated in exams, homework. and i am very confident about my friends as well. In my school we had something called 'value education class' - everyday half hour before the day begins students were taught good values of life. integrity, hardwork were not just taught theoretically but we were put into situations where we would be required to exhibit these qualities.
And it wasn't a private school. I come from a middle class background. i studied in a public school. and as students we took lot of pride in being students of teachers who themselves were well known for good values.
Angain, i feel sorry for this guy, he probably never had good teachers, and he thought all teachers and students are bad.I have a question for you Aniruddh - you are taking education in America.did you cheat to come here ? if not, don't dare to generalise things. I have also come to america to pursue education. i have never cheated. its all my hardwork and my great values.
And well its not just about India, you are applying your pathetic generalisation to America as well.
"Girls are not very promiscuous, contrary to most Hollywood films" - How many hollywood films should I enlist which don't show girls as promiscuous - brother, where did you get that pathetic initial notion[that girls are promiscuous] from?
I am again sorry for you Aniruddh. Your parents, friends never recommeded you good hollywood movies which don't portray girls based on their physical needs.
And in fact it shows that what you are exploring in America - when you are making that judgement probably you were on lookout for girls who are ready for anything you want. otherwise how would you judge that aspect ? Ask me,whether girls from my universit are promiscuous? boss ,I am a male student from India and I have no idea. they may be , they may not be. It doesn't depend on country. it depends on person. Many of my Indian friends have met Indian girls who just wanted to have physical relation in the name of love. Aren't those Indian girls promiscuous?? but then does that mean all Indian girls are like that ??
Quora is a forum , where anybody can write what they feel. Its shame on Business Insider that a person's generic comments - many of which are just subjective -about two countries are used to fill up the column. Quora probably couldn't control it because that's how it works. I am surprised how business insider let it go ?
Now See. Gus Lubin, who i guess is an americam has simply copied someone else article to fill this column. Isn't that irony ?? There is no hardwork in copying, right ? It takes hardwork to write something original. A proof that it doesn't depend on country. it depends on person. Gus chose to copy somebody's article to fill up this column. Copy - which doesn't need hardwork. But that doesn't mean other american BI journalists resort to having somebody else's articles to fill up their columns. They really write some good original articles which shows how much hardwork they put in their research.
I will not be surprised if my comments are not published.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522e202beab8ea3d5c22b6a5CGMon, 09 Sep 2013 15:23:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522e202beab8ea3d5c22b6a5
I agree with the article on this...a middle class apt i visited in Delhi was a 1 bedroom - which would house a family and the grandparents, no stove - just a stovestop on the wooden table, no shower - you take a bath filling a pail then use a cup, squat toilet, no a/c or heating, walls are not built to be insulating - everything outside comes inside, constant electricity outages, and the apt has water storage for about 7-10 gallons which you have to wake up early in the morning to get otherwise you don't have water. This is the middle class standard...the apt i stayed in would have been condemned in the US.
the poor in the US are living in luxury compared to the rest of the world. I have family on native reservations and even they live better that the above mentioned middle class apartment.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522d7b396bb3f7447f8b4568An OutsiderMon, 09 Sep 2013 03:39:37 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522d7b396bb3f7447f8b4568
Weird is subjective. He's talking about the things he finds unusual about America. I think a lot of his points apply to most Western countries. Asian countries are more like India than America. So no-one is technically "weird", and your need to tell him that his country is the weird one is frankly annoying and very telling about your open-mindedness.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522c9bcb6bb3f72b54b85529DLMSun, 08 Sep 2013 11:46:19 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522c9bcb6bb3f72b54b85529
If you're not able to calculate 15% in your head, then maybe you shouldn't be assuming that your sense of taste and knowledge of nutrition is on a higher plane.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522c8f55ecad040f4c696476WynneSun, 08 Sep 2013 10:53:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522c8f55ecad040f4c696476
My German husband sometimes jokes (and did especially often right before we moved back to the USA from traveling abroad) that we were going to have to adjust to living in a second-world country. Compared to many developed countries, America's services and quality of life are pretty poor. Compare rankings in health care, education, average life expectancy, the gap between the rich and the poor, quality of life, all sorts of health problems and diseases, and we don't look like the land of milk and honey anymore. I agree with some of the commentors who have noted that, though very insightful, this person's view of America is seen from inside the tiny room of academia, through the gap around the door that leads to America at large. For the most part, having spent most of my life in academia as well, I acknowledge that I too see from this privileged perspective; but that doesn't mean I can't acknowledge my limited view, and I would hesitate to make such sweeping generalizations about American society.
The author himself doesn't phrase his observations so definitively, and not all of them are even positive; however, some of the commentors here have basically turned what he says into a statement of how great America is, and I think that is problematic. We should never let an abundance of soda and the fact that janitors have cell phones make us think we no longer need to do work to make our society more just and equitable.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522bfc9d69bedd8e712fcfa6Mark V.Sun, 08 Sep 2013 00:27:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522bfc9d69bedd8e712fcfa6
"•Almost every single person in America has access to basic food, clothing, water and sanitation. I haven't been to states like Louisiana and cities like Detroit, but from what I can tell, nobody is scrambling for the basic necessities required for sustenance. "
He's obviously never been to the Tenderloin in San Francisco or any other slum for that matter. College campuses usually have almost no homeless people on them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b926beab8ea811097b160lisa bernsteinSat, 07 Sep 2013 16:54:03 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b926beab8ea811097b160
ummm....wrong. There are billions of people who would glady, cheerfully, sacrafice their own children, abandon their relatives to trade places with the single mom in the bronx, the miss. delta or the Indian living on a reservation. The immigrants who come here from poverty take advantage of all the services the U.S. has to offer and usually do not live on welfare longer than it takes to get a job and a place to live. And the bulk of them are able to start sending money back to the ones they left behind and eventually petition to get the ones left behind brought to this country.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b9055ecad0417562fcf95Lisa BernsteinSat, 07 Sep 2013 16:45:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b9055ecad0417562fcf95
first, we know we are reading the insights of a young man from india and not from a pulitzer prize winner...it is an enjoyable read or you wouldnt have read it. Next, life is cheap in India. Always has been. It will take generations to get past that.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b8de269bedda57f2fcf9flisa bernsteinSat, 07 Sep 2013 16:34:42 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b8de269bedda57f2fcf9f
your post sounds ignorant....you are judging the book by the cover, usually reserved for the ignorant and the young...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b8b5769bedd557d2fcf99Lisa BernsteinSat, 07 Sep 2013 16:23:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b8b5769bedd557d2fcf99
Go check out the criminal system in India before you ding the American criminal system. Here in the U.S., you have a right to a fair trial and legal counsel. You are innocent until proved guilty. In india, if you have the money, you can bribe your way out of murder.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b8ab2eab8ea230297b15cLIsa BernsteinSat, 07 Sep 2013 16:21:06 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b8ab2eab8ea230297b15c
i believe you are incorrect. I have a friend who was visiting from india...her 11 year old was staring at a homeless guy in fishermans wharf, san francisco. I asked her if she had poor people in india and she said, THAT man is not poor (he was unrolling his sleeping bag and had parked his shopping cart and locked it to a street pole) i told her he was indeed poor and homeless and she said that "homeless people in india do not have THINGS, they do not have CLOTHES, BLANKETS, ETC...so i beg to differ with you Andre. Go look at other countries poor and then say they would not gladly trade places with the single mom in the bronx or an indian on a reservation.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b81d7ecad04ae392fcf97Pippy Meow-MeowSat, 07 Sep 2013 15:43:19 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b81d7ecad04ae392fcf97
I have lived in Europe on many occasions and here is what I find different about the US compared to European countries:
1) Cars and dwellings are far smaller in Europe.
2) Time is viewed differently. Anything over 100 years old is old in the US, but in Europe it is modern. People have items which are 200-300 years old and they are passed down.
3) Twenty-four hour time and DD/MM/YYYY.
4) Food is bought fresh and almost daily. Supermarkets are common in the UK, but not so much on the continent.
5) Holidays are not as numerous in Europe but are taken seriously. Try getting goods or services on Easter or Christmas. But crap like Mother's Day or whatever corporate contrivance it is is non-existent. Bastille Day and national holidays, especially Armistice Day and V-E Day is still honored and the country closes down.
6) Nothing is open twenty-four hours and a lot of places are closed on Sundays. (Again, this is more the continent than the UK.)
7) Countries like France and Holland are more overtly racist than you are led to believe. Making fun of one's religion is sport.
8) People actually go on vacation in Europe. They take time off from work and go away for weeks. Most countries "shut down" in August. Vacation is taken seriously.
9) Children play outside and while video games and computer things are certainly popular, the idea of sitting inside day after day is ludicrous thumbing devices would land you in a mental ward.
10) The multi-generation/ nuclear family is more common in Europe. Divorce rates are high, but nothing like the US.
11) In Europe, everything is for adults and children are but guests in it. Europeans laugh at the insanely doting nature of American parents. Sneer is more like it. Children are disciplined in Europe, are more respectful to adults, and would never consider that they have rights.
12) Education may be free, but you only continue if you have the aptitude and you more or less have to study the fields where your aptitude lies as opposed to your "passion". Idiot humanities curricula like Queer Theory or Women's Studies are less common (except in France). Trade schools are more respected. People understand that the world needs plumbers and do not look down upon those who labor.
13) No one is circumcised in Europe. It is considered Jewish or Muslim.
14) No one goes to church in Europe. Only old people.
15) Portions are considerably smaller in Europe, even at fast food joints. Soda is not drank as much. The UK is more Americanized in its diets, but Europeans eat healthier and usually as a family. They also consume more alcohol and at an earlier age.
16) Billboards are non-existent. Few people would dream of wearing clothing with advertising on it. Advertising is less ubiquitous and often illegal in public spaces.
17) Weddings, if they occur at all, are usually civil and very small with only a few friends and family. Not like in the US or Asia where they are huge affairs.
18) Military service is required in most countries. However, most are basically civilian militias.
19) Public transport rocks in Europe. In many countries, cars are taxed 200-300% of the MSRP. People are content to walk, take buses, bicycle ride. Thus they are fitter.
20) Tipping is not a custom and is often considered vulgar.
21) Fewer items are disposable in Europe and fewer things are disposed of.
22) Europeans are far more aware of the national heritage and take pride in it. However, they are not "patriotic" like Americans. Except at football matches. Their grasp of history is both broad and deep. Americans can barely guess how many states are in the union let alone name them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b71acecad04c0162fcfa0AnonymousSat, 07 Sep 2013 14:34:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b71acecad04c0162fcfa0
You're stupid.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b1d1f69bedd170f2fcfa1HEYHEYHEYSat, 07 Sep 2013 08:33:35 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522b1d1f69bedd170f2fcfa1
Well he is pretty close, but he obviously hasn't seen the US from outside the eyes of attending an elite school that would lead him to believe that we are a classless society. He would have no reason to visit the vast areas of poverty that is extreme when compared to Western Europe or Canada, Australia/NZ.
The poor are more visible in Indian cities and comparably we do not share that level of disparity of wealth. He has access to social groups from the elite of Academia he should make an effort to volunteer for a homeless shelter and get an larger picture of America. He should also spend time in rural America where attitudes towards him may be racially based and suspicious. If he mentioned Diwali in a poorly educated white rural small town, it would be not met with curiosity but suspicion and probably misconceptions of it being an Islamic holiday.
He would be surprised to see the emptiness of some of our cities that look like 3rd world countries surrounded by full and affluent suburbs. It is a misallocation of resources on a bewildering scale and has a several factors that caused it's rise and now it's reversal.
He was told fat people are largely poor and this is true. I don't think this can be solely blamed on poor access to healthy food - this is part of it. I also think it has become acceptable to fat within lower classes as they generally have to make less of a professional impression of health and self control to become employable by a company that is used to high achievers who are aware they need to remain in decent shape to look like they care about themselves and their work.
Author would would be amazed at how little Americans know about the rest of the world or care to know. i
Did not touch on American's views on race, religion nativism/xenophobia and a rural white fear of the government that creates a gun culture to justify a right to revolt while those same people are spent happy with our military and a hostile police force that pretends it is the military. that illogically will make it tough for him to work here and create new jobs, but it is easy for him to be educated here and use our great asset of education in India. Which is like training athletes at the highest level to allow them to beat us in the olympics. He didn't general state of paranoia, or anything that would compare news media to that of India.
We are fake outrage at everything! It is a result of a conformist mentality that is partially corporatist and partially religious - they are kept bland but seen as a sign of stability through their ultimate authority on the individual.
The south is where people actually go to church and more fundamentalist and literal in their faiths. The rest of the country may go on holidays and use their religion as a cultural touchstone. The bible belt sees it as an than a existential philosophy that explains the physical world as well as the spiritual one. It is also strangely intertwined with Patriotism and and a view that questioning God or country is not done openly with the latter being a religion in its own right. They feel both are under attack at all time by the subversive liberal media.
Our history is told as a simplified story of 3 wars that were for our liberty and other's - We also have a strange obsession with trying to think what the founders were thinking at the time, like it matters to us today or that there is a way to know. Like the student, most Americans are polytheistic by treating them as gods which ironically against the 1sr Commandment and the idea of a secular republic set forth by the constitution
Everything looks the same in every town and we have few public squares that are common for much of the world and the lack thereof may cause compound our fears of letting kids go play outside on their own and thinking a shooter will at anytime come barging down our front door or school.
We are less fearful of kids being killed by cars which is real danger but have a fear or kidnappers taking your kid if not watched at all times (nobody wants to take your kid, most people dislike the crying and tantrums of kids in a store, plus nearly everyone can easily make a kid of their own very easily.)
Most likely a kid will be killed by a car ,homicide drowning or suicide - we don't worry to much about reason or empirical evidence or long term results.
LBGT culture is fine with the majority younger Americans and most educated urban whites, as well as the country as a whole but some states run by rural whites have a different stance because they fear letting other adults do something that does not harm them. It's embarrassing to the rest of the country.
Weed is probably looked down upon less than tobacco smoking which is now seen as weakness and a lower class vice.
Girls at Carnegie Mellon may not be promiscuous but take a drive to Ohio State and notice the difference a football team, tailgate culture and the parties that come along with it will get you lucky even if your a trollhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/522aaecaecad04122300d802John MackSat, 07 Sep 2013 00:42:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522aaecaecad04122300d802
Reports show that "food insufficiency" is a huge and growing problem in the US. He, as a visitor in a relatively sheltered part of society, wouldn't notice. Americans generally hide their distress, putting on a good front, ashamed of their "failure to provide." But huge gaps in wealth really exist and really have dire consequences for a large part of society.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522a291f69beddfe737c37bfamastonFri, 06 Sep 2013 15:12:31 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522a291f69beddfe737c37bf
Or better yet, explain why people leave mexico to live in the US as undocumented workers making less than minimum wage and manage to send their extra cash back to their families in mexico?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522a282feab8eae62ead5a92amastonFri, 06 Sep 2013 15:08:31 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522a282feab8eae62ead5a92
You bring up a good point about PPP. It's been a while since I looked at this, but I believe that it is only the bottom 5% of Americans live below the 50% global PPP average. Regardless of the actual numbers, if you are poor in the US you have access to free or subsidized housing, food, transportation, education and health care. Outside of the developed world that is unheard of. Would you rather be an american in the bottom 10% of our society or would you rather be a randomly chosen person elsewhere on the planet? Anyone with sense would pick bottom 10% every time. "Poor" is relative and no able bodied/minded person starves to death in the US.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52295b0369beddb32c8b456cby002007Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:33:07 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52295b0369beddb32c8b456c
I don't think you understood the point Pearl was making - she isn't teaching them the definition of "plagiarism," she's saying the that the way plagiarism is viewed in China and the U.S. is different. Chinese people don't usually see plagiarism in black and white the way people do in the U.S., which isn't to say that it doesn't happen here all the time. BTW, it's common in Taiwan as well (your defense minister just resigned last month for that exact reason), so you can get off your high horse in regards to Taiwan's superiority to China,http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52292ce7ecad041f408b456enorrbaggianThu, 05 Sep 2013 21:16:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52292ce7ecad041f408b456e
this tipping thing, is the reason ill never go to usa, tipping sucks.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52290e94ecad048b0f8b4568Scottxx334455Thu, 05 Sep 2013 19:07:00 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52290e94ecad048b0f8b4568
oh, and at our U last semester one of the Chinese teachers gave out the answer sheet to the final the week before, and another one had the actual final exam in class 2 weeks before it was given so the class could "practice". My students told me about it.
The West worries about China becoming a world leader, and I tell my students 'fat chance'. The U education here stinks and the graduates learn it well :))http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52290dafeab8ea0a6a8b4570Scottxx334455Thu, 05 Sep 2013 19:03:11 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52290dafeab8ea0a6a8b4570
Hey, you speak for yourself. :) I have now been teaching in China for 5 years and my student friends estimate that 70% of their classmates either buy or copy their homework, projects, and when they can their tests. I have personally found many many students cheating. One friend even told me her high school teacher taught them too so their marks would be higher.
On the other hand, almost all of my friends (and my wife) are Chinese and I have no problem trusting them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228fbb86bb3f75d638b456aelsyThu, 05 Sep 2013 17:46:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228fbb86bb3f75d638b456a
exactlyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228cc30ecad04f8088b4568aarti.shah.7921Thu, 05 Sep 2013 14:23:44 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228cc30ecad04f8088b4568
Wow! Did this guy really qualify to attend Carnegie Mellon? How low is their standard? Here is the problem with this post/idea. He is living in a closet and need to open up!
- Americans buy coffee at Starbucks and don't make it at home to save a buck because to make coffee at home they have to wake up early, then they have clean the pot, then they have to clean their carry-cup and a host of other things. Don't forget there is still a cost to buy the coffee powder and pay for the electricity. If you calculate it in detail you will save may be 25cents per cup over Starbucks - that's not much in a year! Plus Starbucks gives you rewards that almost is 5 cups free for every 12.
- I don't think Mr. Aniruddh got treated better because he went down from 210lbs to 150lbs - he simply got used to getting better customer service over a longer period of time he had spent in the US.
- Brick houses are not recommended in the US because of Earthquakes and other prevalent natural disasters. It has nothing to do with price or norm. Brick houses increase fatality rates in India when such incidents occur. India needs to adopt better housing materials.
- He heard students tear pages from books? What books? Everything is electronic nowadays. Come on!
- The cost of 1 coke can and 12 cans does make economic sense - it's called economies of scale and works great for small cheap-to-manufacture products. The same will not work for say "cars".
- Water does not have to be cheaper than soda. It's bottled water - there is cost to produce it with preservatives and treating by osmosis or irradiating it - this does not have to be done with most sodas.
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not festivals and cannot be compared to Diwali.
- Has Aniruddh been to India lately? Everyone has a smartphone - including hawkers and even beggars. I think India has crossed the US in those terms - mostly because phone plans are super cheap.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228c84d6bb3f7da7f8b456eDick StrokerThu, 05 Sep 2013 14:07:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228c84d6bb3f7da7f8b456e
Home cooked food does NOT have to be expensive. I prepare all of my own meals, NEVER eat at a restaurant or buy prepared food. I eat a well-balanced diet focused on whatever fruits and vegetables are freshest and cheapest at any time of the year and never spend more than $300/month on food. Home cooked food is always the freshest and best because you have complete control over what does and does not go into it!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228bdfaeab8ea9b488b4568meThu, 05 Sep 2013 13:23:06 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228bdfaeab8ea9b488b4568
brick homes are abundant in certain regions of the country (the areas with lots of clay!).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228bc44eab8ea343f8b457bSomeoneThu, 05 Sep 2013 13:15:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5228bc44eab8ea343f8b457b
You must not have been anywhere near the southeast USA. There isn't much in the way of equal here. You are either well off and can afford what you need, or you aren't. I work an almost full time job at above federal minimum wage and am forced to rent a room in order to live on my income. I want my own place but cannot afford it. Rent here alone comes to 85% of my total income. I lack healthcare and will continue to lack healthcare in 2014 thanks to the greedy people in my states government and total lack of jobs here. Believe it or not, I'm actually better off than a lot of people in this area. However I'm in a gray zone as well.. I do not qualify for any help from the government because I've been responsible enough to avoid having any kids. If I had a kid or few, I would be set. I'm sure India has its problems, but where I live, a lot of people cannot afford nutritious food, proper shelter or the basics. I was born and raised in this state, but I may move back to California where I actually had more opportunity.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52279bc06bb3f76f4f316149RyanWed, 04 Sep 2013 16:44:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52279bc06bb3f76f4f316149
Something tells me you don't get laid very often and have had virtually no experience with white women. You know what they say about those that have to brag.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5227311c6bb3f7c60131615750ThingsToKnowWed, 04 Sep 2013 09:09:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5227311c6bb3f7c601316157
Thanks for sharing this list. I always like to ask exchange students what they think the biggest difference is between the two countries. This is a very comprehensive list.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5226b720eab8ead41eac0c44SaurabhWed, 04 Sep 2013 00:29:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5226b720eab8ead41eac0c44
It is his version of things he noticed and figured that was contrary to what he saw and had heard back home in India. They are more of observations. I appreciate the fact that he has not reasoned and debated on what is right and what is wrong.
There are some things that are priced similar in India and US. For example 'Car' . They cost the same in India as well as in the US. But the income levels are totally different !!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52268d81eab8eacb49ac0c3cDamodar BaleTue, 03 Sep 2013 21:31:45 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52268d81eab8eacb49ac0c3c
Really, really funny. What is American, and what is Indian? Both these nations belong to one planet. Humans are the citizen and no alliance are noticed. Where does one go wrong?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5226723d6bb3f7dc1668b31dyou don't have to be precise ...Tue, 03 Sep 2013 19:35:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5226723d6bb3f7dc1668b31d
Customary tips are 'about' 15%, so you do 175.75 is about 180, so 18 +9 = 27 (and it doesn't terribly matter if you use 170 instead of 180 :) I normally do like this and then adjust (a couple more bucks for good service, a couple less for bad)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522649766bb3f7074b68b313Dan554Tue, 03 Sep 2013 16:41:26 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522649766bb3f7074b68b313
Weed isn't seen the same as smoking cigarettes in the USA. He's too immersed in college life, but this misperception is a small quibble.
We also don't have anything resembling a classless society. He just doesn't have access to anyone of a higher class, or if he does know them they hide their resources well (common at a University), and so he assumes that all he knows is what exists. It follows that all sections of society are not "roughly equal". They aren't (nor should they be). Lots of plumbers, construction workers, and janitors live hand to mouth here, if not most. The difference is that hand-to-mouth here looks different than it does in India.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52261eee69bedd6173382fe6ValdoriaTue, 03 Sep 2013 13:39:58 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52261eee69bedd6173382fe6
Wow... his story is obviously limited to CA area where he was interning.
Where I have worked in numerous companies, it is a dog eat dog world and people gossip and throw you under the bus on a whim. This is one reason that I would like to live outside of the US. Although my IT ex seemed to have less of an issue with this so maybe the IT minded folks are more collaborative.
Cheating is rampant, just look at university of phoenix where people graduate and still barely know how to read.
Girls mimick the movies and are becoming more and more promiscuous caring less and less about female equality in the US. I believe this is the 1%/government means to divide and conquer. Sexism and Racism are fueled by our media to distract us from the corruption going on.
Our middle class is shrinking and the disparity between well to do and very poor is becoming greater as the 1% continue to rule government and leach more and more off of the masses.
Other than the notes above, he is pretty on target.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52261636ecad045a6cac0c3fk8ghallTue, 03 Sep 2013 13:02:46 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52261636ecad045a6cac0c3f
I like this one - - it's a thoughtful and refreshing observation.
I was definitely prepared for the typical "narcissistic, lazy , obsessed with phones" so thanks for leaving those out :)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522593d2ecad04b269b43ab1Guest123Tue, 03 Sep 2013 03:46:26 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522593d2ecad04b269b43ab1
Can you please comment about medical care in US. I have heard that it is extremely costly (to the verge of impossible for poor) in absence of medical insurance. I am also interested to know about lack of public transport in most cities, towns, etc.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522510ae69bedd2a158b4572BastidMon, 02 Sep 2013 18:26:54 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522510ae69bedd2a158b4572
Almost every single person in America has access to basic food, clothing, water and sanitation. I haven't been to states like Louisiana and cities like Detroit, but from what I can tell, nobody is scrambling for the basic necessities required for sustenance.
WTF?!?! Do you think that everyone here in Louisiana is scrambling in the swamps trying to find enough nourishment to last another day? We got food galore here. And culture. And hurricanes. And festivals. And crime. In short, this place is just as good and bad as other places.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522509316bb3f7166c461a56Philip F.Mon, 02 Sep 2013 17:54:57 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522509316bb3f7166c461a56
I can see why he uses Detroit as a general example of a place where people could lack basic food necessities. Much has been made of Detroit's financial troubles, urban blight, and poor citizens. However, I don't understand how Louisiana is lumped into the same category as Detroit. I am a Louisiana resident, and while many citizens do not have a sizable income, a large portion of the population (especially rural) hunt and fish for both sustenance and sport. Many have personal gardens as well. I feel like this notion of self-reliance when it comes to feeding oneself is lost on people who come from more of an urban/suburban setting, where food is purchased mainly through a commercial retail setting. Just because a supermarket might not readily be available, does not mean that people starve. This goes for people across the country also, not just in Louisiana and the deep south.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52250769ecad047b68b43aa5Edwin PerelloMon, 02 Sep 2013 17:47:21 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52250769ecad047b68b43aa5
The US is becoming far less a classless society thanks to the significant drop in upward mobility.
We may all be using iPhones but when it comes to health and the ability to do better than your parents did, there's most definitely the beginnings of a caste system if things stay on this downward trend.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224ef4e69bedd8e4e8b456aLi-Jen ChuMon, 02 Sep 2013 16:04:30 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224ef4e69bedd8e4e8b456a
But it's a complication, why should I, being the one that's served and the one that's paying, be asked to do the math? And there are different situations, for example some restaurants don't accept tips, like McDonald's. So when you enter a restaurant, it's not clear every time whether you should give tips or not, and you have to explicit ask about it. Another situation arises when you go to, for example, the barber shop. I've heard people giving $1 dollar tip for a $10 haircut and was asked why he gave so little. Sometime if you do that math wrong, the waiter will chase you out of the restaurant and say unpleasant things.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224edfaecad049338b43aa7Li-Jen ChuMon, 02 Sep 2013 15:58:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224edfaecad049338b43aa7
By the way, there's actually a word for plagiarism in Chinese, "抄襲" or "剽竊", it's a common word, so I don't see why you need to teach them what it means.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224edeaeab8ea4c669c0f0aJEDIDIAHMon, 02 Sep 2013 15:58:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224edeaeab8ea4c669c0f0a
Europe does have insane taxes and living conditions that many Americans would consider unacceptable. It's not just mindless putdowns. It's the truth. You should actually go see for yourself and stop believing in whatever sort of hype you've managed to buy into.
There are downsides to living in western Europe and the upsides come with a real cost attached.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224ecc76bb3f75c2f461a63JEDIDIAHMon, 02 Sep 2013 15:53:43 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224ecc76bb3f75c2f461a63
It's a tip. You're not trying to land a Mars probe. Just take a reasonable guess. You could even take the easy way out and just tip 10%.
Problem solving is as much about making a problem easier as it is the mechanics of computation.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224e57c6bb3f75224461a62BulldogvillanMon, 02 Sep 2013 15:22:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224e57c6bb3f75224461a62
If in California, simply double the amount for the sales tax and round up and that'll be your tip. Tipping is not a requirement, but this is how servers, bussers and bartenders make money. The tip isn't just for your server, your server takes the tip money and gives a portion to the busser and bartender (if you ordered a drink). It is assumed that the server makes X amount of tips per X amount of sales and they are taxed on that. So if you don't tip them, they actually have to pay money out of their own pocket to serve you.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224e106ecad04521cb43ab3Another IndianMon, 02 Sep 2013 15:03:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224e106ecad04521cb43ab3
@ Don Harder - India does have a population of over a billion people, 60% of which live under the poverty line. The poverty line is defined as people that have less than $1 / day to survive on. With that, there is a large disparity in the income levels of people in India. As such, labor is very cheap. Most people - middle class and above - have at least one maid that does the dishes, cleans the homes etc. Many people have drivers and cooks.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224dfbf6bb3f7bb1f461a56JumbybirdMon, 02 Sep 2013 14:58:07 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224dfbf6bb3f7bb1f461a56
Sounds like a spoilt rich kid. Brick houses are the norm in India? Gimmie a break, he must mean mud brick. And personal shoppers... sounds like this kid never left the comfort of his daddy's mansion, chauffeured limo and 20 servants in his life.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224dc3169bedd201e8b4577Steven RogersMon, 02 Sep 2013 14:42:57 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224dc3169bedd201e8b4577
I went to Canada once and tweeted Canadians weren't as nice as they were portrayed in jokes. You should write a multi-page article about that.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224d48fecad04e505b43ab5SKoopMon, 02 Sep 2013 14:10:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224d48fecad04e505b43ab5
"An almost-classless society: I've noticed that most Americans roughly have the same standard of living. Everybody has access to ample food, everybody shops at the same supermarkets, malls, stores, etc."
Many of your observations were very interesting but I would disagree that there is no class system at all. It may not be as prominent as the remnants of India's Caste System or the polarization between the poor and wealthy in India, but I think that certainly there are different class systems that are very prominent in America if you open your eyes and look around. For example, the statement that everybody generally has access to the same resources, i.e. supermarkets etc. is simply not true. As you mentioned earlier in your article, you observed that poor people are heavier than wealthy people. While its true poor people eat more fast food, it is also in part, attributed to the fact that it is uncommon for anything but poor quality restaurants / fast food restaurants to exist in low income areas. You certainly are not going to find a quality grocery store without traveling if you live in one of those areas.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224c443eab8ea01139c0f0aMcavityMon, 02 Sep 2013 13:00:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224c443eab8ea01139c0f0a
I've seen plumbers, construction workers and janitors driving their own sedans, which was quite difficult for me to digest at first since I came from a country where construction workers and plumbers lived hand to mouth.
This May blow your mind.. but that Plumber or construction worker may be making more money than you. skilled tradesmen can charge a lot for that skill, an after all how much money would you charge to deal with someone else overflowing toilet!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224bf546bb3f7de60461a61richard40Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:39:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224bf546bb3f7de60461a61
Interesting observations, and pretty much right. Foreigners often see us better than we see ourselves. Interesting and generally correct observations on American honesty and ethics. We have generally been considered as a high trust society, and compared to much of the world our honesty and ethics are actually pretty good. Even our corrupt political class is not any worse than many others. The dearth in ethics that everybody seems to comment on is actually a comparison to our idealized version of the past that we wish we could be, not what actually is.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224b05569beddc044fd4622aharrisMon, 02 Sep 2013 11:35:49 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224b05569beddc044fd4622
It isn't so much about food cost as it is about not making smart choices. Yes, the big of grapes is expensive, but it's also way more than you need to eat at one sitting, too. If portioned properly, that bag of grapes can last you all week. That makes its cost considerably less although the initial payout seems high. Most good quality food is like that. Additionally, if you teach yourself how to cook, you can cook a large casserole or pot of soup and make leftovers that will last you most of a week and come out ahead of the person who visits the dollar menu for lunch every day.
But it's all comes back to knowing how to pick your recipes, do your cooking, shop wisely making smart choices, and then self-control to portion your food out once you have it. Maybe that's why some of us eating healthy are thin, too.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224a535ecad04a02fb43aabSNMon, 02 Sep 2013 10:48:21 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5224a535ecad04a02fb43aab
Chu,
Take it easy. Every culture has its own quirks. The author is just putting his view on the cultural shift he has seen when he came from India to US. By no means, he is generalising every indian is like this and evey american is like that and everyone in your home country is "not" like this.
In fact, I am more concerned in your comments where "we" is used. It looks like you have taken it upon yourself to represent the whole community and is imposing your thoughts as every one other than the author.
It really DOESN'T matter if you agree or not. What you should be able to appreciate if a view a person has from a particular country going to another.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52249c1769bedd7514fd4622dvMon, 02 Sep 2013 10:09:27 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52249c1769bedd7514fd4622
Let's see, the US has around 400 million people spread unequally over an area that is close to three times that of India; considering its many immigrant communities and how much they contribute to the local and national cultures, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it is as diverse as the latter. This guy, according to what is implied by his own words and the author's intro, has barely been outside two states and a couple of big cities inside them - out of close to 60 in the continental US and dozens of large cities. Even then he feels qualified to describe the country in broad strokes with an authoritative tone, while barely bothering to do any serious research, though US census data and plenty of that of the OECD and WB are open source and free for him to check. Or he could just jump to the wikipedia article on US poverty:
"In November 2012 the U.S. Census Bureau said more than 16% of the population lived in poverty in the United States, including almost 20% of American children,[7] up from 14.3% (approximately 43.6 million) in 2009 and to its highest level since 1993. In 2008, 13.2% (39.8 million) Americans lived in poverty.[8]"
The land of opportunity, indeed. As to his claims that his coworkers and fellow students were fair and honest and willing to help, that flows from a pretty common fallacy, that of generalizing from his own personal experience, like arguing over the merits of global warming based on how the weather is in one's own city. And there are entire websites and forums providing support for US interns who feel they are treated like slaves. The guy looks and writes like a toady, willing to please and flatter. Nevertheless I wish him success, like I wish every unlucky American will somehow find a way to lead a decent and relatively comfortable life. But I would rather see a fighter than a toady reach the top, because it is the former that freed the country from an empire ruled by oafs and their airhead courtesans.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52248064ecad04d96ab43aa4Kelvin HoonMon, 02 Sep 2013 08:11:16 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52248064ecad04d96ab43aa4
Its actually sensible =)
The way that stores price their products makes no apparent economic sense, and is not linear at all.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discrimination" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discrimination</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52246e98ecad042e3db43acbSymsMon, 02 Sep 2013 06:55:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52246e98ecad042e3db43acb
I agree. Seeing this make me feel a bit better about being American. Most of these things we take for granted as being the "norm." Having never traveled out of our country yet the next best thing is to hear this kind of information from someone visiting here.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52246249ecad04432ab43ab5rightsideoftheatlanticMon, 02 Sep 2013 06:02:49 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52246249ecad04432ab43ab5
America is not a fully developed country because it doesn't have a healthcare system (just lots of healthcare businesses) and it can't control its own people slaughtering each other with guns because of the meaning of something in the constitution, written in the 1700s, which has been reworked by a small right wing section of society to suit their narrow interest. It also thinks the solution to the world's problems is to bomb them, which, it has to be said, is fairly primitive. America is about 'self' so its a great place if that's what you think a country should be about but there are much more sophisticated and developed countries elsewhere.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52244ce169bedd5c5cfd4624BarboraMon, 02 Sep 2013 04:31:29 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52244ce169bedd5c5cfd4624
I think it would be interesting to ask people of different nationalities who come to study to the US the same questions. It all seems relative - I certainly had a completely different experience regarding some points than the author. But then again - the US is such a big country that it's impossible to say what it's like as a whole.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52243f736bb3f7906a8b456aRGT18Mon, 02 Sep 2013 03:34:11 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52243f736bb3f7906a8b456a
Having also lived in USA for some time, there are two statements I do not agree with:
1."Serving Sizes: American serving sizes are HUGE!" - This again is true for most mid-end restaurants. Once you go to high-end restaurants (Michelin star rated and avg. cost per person >$50) the serving sizes is gain small
2. "An almost-classless society" - This is true only on surface, basically the difference between have nots and rich in India is stark - torn clothes, etc. In USA its subtle - brooks brothers shirt vs. van heusen and driving a porche/bmw vs. ford focus.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52243b05eab8ead06c8b4577C.A.Mon, 02 Sep 2013 03:15:17 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52243b05eab8ead06c8b4577
I'm skinny and poor.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52242255eab8ea6e428b4570EdPMon, 02 Sep 2013 01:29:57 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52242255eab8ea6e428b4570
A lot of insightful observations. There are just a couple that seem a bit off.
- It's not that the poor can't afford to eat healthy. This has got to be one of the silliest perpetuated myths. Beans, potatoes, rice, corn meal, chicken, milk, and countless other basic and simple foods are extremely cheap and healthy. Now, maybe what you were trying to say is that the really healthy AND tasty stuff is expensive. But even this is a stretch - you can prepare very tasty, gourmet like meals with simple spices and ingredients at cheap prices. It just seems to be more of a culture thing.
- I'm sure many would disagree, but from experience, I wouldn't say that lack of opportunity is the reason for the lack of blacks in technical fields. It's just not popular in the black community. For black kids that do take an interest in something technical it's arguably easier for them to get into to elite institutions vis a vis other races - it's just that interest isn't there as often in the first place. How you fix that is a tough question.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522419fe6bb3f7af238b456cXVOMon, 02 Sep 2013 00:54:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522419fe6bb3f7af238b456c
Not the people the rest of the world didn't want, but the people smart enough and brave enough to leave everything they had for a chance to improve their position.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52240f466bb3f741128b456aStevezMon, 02 Sep 2013 00:08:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52240f466bb3f741128b456a
<a href="http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/09/understanding-poverty-in-the-united-states-surprising-facts-about-americas-poor" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/09/understanding-poverty-in-the-united-states-surprising-facts-about-americas-poor</a>
80 percent of poor households have air conditioning. In 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
92 percent of poor households have a microwave.
Nearly three-fourths have a car or truck, and 31 percent have two or more cars or trucks.
Nearly two-thirds have cable or satellite TV.
Two-thirds have at least one DVD player, and 70 percent have a VCR.
Half have a personal computer, and one in seven have two or more computers.
More than half of poor families with children have a video game system, such as an Xbox or PlayStation.
43 percent have Internet access.
One-third have a wide-screen plasma or LCD TV.
One-fourth have a digital video recorder system, such as a TiVo.
I guess there is poor and there is 'poor'. Please explain how the 'poor' in the USA have it so much worse than the 'poor' of the rest of the world.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52240eadecad04a2098b457eLi-Jen ChuMon, 02 Sep 2013 00:06:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52240eadecad04a2098b457e
(1) Sometimes in Taiwan the clerks follow you, but they often don't appear to look friendly, and it makes me think they're there because they suspect me of stealing things, which makes me uncomfortable. And they don't really offer assistance, they just watch you from a distance. But for developed countries I think no assistance is the norm, because labor is expensive.
(2) I'm not sure, but if you go to Japan or Korea or Taiwan I think they all understand what plagiarism means, probably China is still too underdeveloped, and I would not say that's the norm. If you really want to say US is "weird", at least compare with Europe or Australia. The same applies for (3), (4), and (5).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52240bf96bb3f75b7f8b457aPearl B. LeeSun, 01 Sep 2013 23:54:33 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52240bf96bb3f75b7f8b457a
Actually, I think this student has many valid points. I am a Chinese American (raised in the states) who taught in Chinese universities for 4 years (including Beijing University), traveled extensively throughout East Asia, and currently teach English to international students at UTA. I hear the same comments coming from my own students.
From my person experiences living in China, this is what I found:
1) When you shop in nice department stores in China....store assistants follow you around to see if you need help. Even in the electronic and shampoo sections of Carrefour (supermarkets)...clerks ask you if you need help.
2) I had to teach my Chinese university students here and in China what the extent of plagiarism means. Academic cheating is very common place in China...especially high stakes exams and papers..most instructors just turn a blind eye. That's why Beijing University requires all of their tenured professors to have a PhD from abroad, and one of the reasons why the TOEFL exams are computerized now.
3) Chinese students (and many of my international students) just pass their tests around...or just ask "What did you get on the test?" When I went to Michigan, we didn't ask each other for our GPAs...
4) Fat people in China are looked down upon (just like in the States).
5) Integrity and Cleanliness are definitely valued differently in China.
I applaud this Indian student for objectively talking about his experiences in the US. No country is similar to another country. For example, England is even very different from the US. I think people who refuse to acknowledge differences between countries are overcompensating (in an attempt to raise the status of their own countries), or even worse, they haven't seen very much of their own country.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5223e256ecad0442368b4586dbennett455Sun, 01 Sep 2013 20:56:54 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5223e256ecad0442368b4586
Very thoughtful and honest observations.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5223d11669beddb5488b4580CEMott3rdSun, 01 Sep 2013 19:43:18 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5223d11669beddb5488b4580
Yes, the reason for our seemingly and comparative social and economic equality is not only due to our system of government but a fierce battle a century ago with the wealthy so that skilled tradesmen such as builders and plumbers were paid a decent living wage. India is one of the most class distinct places on Earth with terrible poverty found all over. Meanwhile if we are not vigilant and fight to maintain our rights those of greater power will gladly take them from us and we will end up more like India again....http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5223a57169bedd146e8b457aAndy of Hood & HeistSun, 01 Sep 2013 16:37:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5223a57169bedd146e8b457a
A little late to this article. BUT, FANTASTIC READ!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52239c65eab8ea9d2c3802f5AYKSun, 01 Sep 2013 15:58:29 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52239c65eab8ea9d2c3802f5
It's not happenstance- it came from the intelligence of our founding fathers who created a fair and balanced system and a place for anyone to have opportunity.
Of course, now many have become too dependent on the government and this may very well bring us down.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5223847a6bb3f77a050baf52salva VeritateSun, 01 Sep 2013 14:16:26 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5223847a6bb3f77a050baf52
I must disagree with the statement "Dearth of African Americans in technical fields. This probably stems from the fact that they aren't given enough opportunity". Math, Physics, & Chemistry don't care who you are. They are equal opportunity Sciences. The lack of African Americans in technical fields is of their own choice. I'm tired of hearing all the BS about lack of opportunity. You can chose to be a gang banger or you can choose to read a text book. Both choices will produce wildly different outcomes in your life.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522371946bb3f7a05f0baf63André Kenji De SousaSun, 01 Sep 2013 12:55:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522371946bb3f7a05f0baf63
You are laughing because as most middle class Brazilians you have a poor knowledge about your own country and about the rest of the world. Most healthcare systems in the whole world faces all kinds of problems, precisely because healthcare is expensive. Sure, there are several problems with Brazilian Hospitals - but we are talking about a country that has a relatively low GDP per capita, and all countries with a HIGH GDP per capita have problems with healthcare. United Kingdom, France, Sweden, all of them have things like waiting lists and yes, people dying on hospitals that should not do.
When compared to the United States there is a large safety net that does not exist in the United States. In the United States there is no paid maternity leave, there is no Universal Healthcare and there is not even mandatory paid vacations. If you have low income, that´s makes a difference.
And the problem of Brazil is precisely a middle class that only whines and that´s are all the time requesting things from the government - even when the country has a retirement age that´s ridiculous low when compared even to Europe.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52237115eab8ea95500baf2bSJSun, 01 Sep 2013 12:53:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52237115eab8ea95500baf2b
"it becomes very hard to empathize with the segment of American population that don't push their kids in academics (as that's almost a guaranteed way to for them to get out of poverty) and aren't working overtime to provide for their family."
Yes it's very hard to empathize if you are not capable of empathy. Empathy requires putting yourself in the other person's shoes- something you clearly can't do. You automatically assume that the only reason someone is not successful in this country is due to laziness or poor choices. That's not empathy, that is just self-congratulatory judgement of others. Yes, we have many opportunities in this nation, but there are many reasons why those opportunities are not available to all. Anyone with actual empathy might understand the complexities and difficulties of benefitting of social and economic advantages by those who have none to begin with.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52236cf96bb3f7a25f0baf1cMichael HiteshewSun, 01 Sep 2013 12:36:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52236cf96bb3f7a25f0baf1c
It's not an accident or happenstance, contrary to what your union teacher in your marxist school wants you to believe.
It happened because the founders designed it that way - things like the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It happened because immigrants worked hard, built farms by hand, taught their children good values. It happened because people volunteered to go overseas and fight horrible wars so fascists and communists and islamists and other totalitarians would not rule over us. It happened because capitalism and competition produce better results for more people than government handouts/entitlements and state/politically controlled (and therefore corrupt) institutions have ever provided.
It's not an accident at all.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52236bb4eab8eabf4b0baf22Marcelo (Brazilian)Sun, 01 Sep 2013 12:30:44 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52236bb4eab8eabf4b0baf22
What?? Seriously...is there another country named Brazil in some part of the world?? Because this guy can't be serious...I'm literarlly laughing...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52236ac8ecad04c5540baf3cMarcelo (Brazilian)Sun, 01 Sep 2013 12:26:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52236ac8ecad04c5540baf3c
What?!?!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522365c56bb3f70c4e0baf32Martin2348902Sun, 01 Sep 2013 12:05:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522365c56bb3f70c4e0baf32
I wonder what he would think if he visited northern Europe - the things he writes about the US are largely things that Americans tend to write about Sweden (although not regarding the variety of food and consumer products, where the US easily beats out every other nation). But compared to Sweden, the US has huge income differences (and in Sweden, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to see a CEO bike to work), the customer service is overwhelming and effusive, homosexuality is generally less accepted, and Americans tend to be less outdoorsy (althought California may be an exception?) and brag and flaunt their accomplishments much more than Swedes. (Also, Sweden has an exaggerated reputation for slutty blondes).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52235c6e6bb3f7c03a0baf2bsoubriquetSun, 01 Sep 2013 11:25:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52235c6e6bb3f7c03a0baf2b
As an englishman I see some things differently. In Texas, my gf's college and high-school-age kids are very focussed on grades. They know they and their equally privileged contemporaries will graduate, but they want to graduate in the top fer percent, because consistently scoring the highest grades, while also excelling in sports will, they think, and it seems to be coming true, propel them to the elite ranks in their chosen careers.
And not bragging about achievements? Everybody seems to have a 'Brag wall', with every certificate, medal, commendation, trophy, they've ever won, photos of them shaking hands with anybody they met who seemed to be from higher up the success pile.
Here in GB, such a display would be considered somewhat embarrassingly vulgar.
Most of the rest I agree with. I'm bemused by the way in which americans spend on poor quality fast food, and how some restaurants, with impressive looking decor and high prices serve very poor food, whereas some cheap looking places serve an abundance of well-made, well presented food. Too abundant though. Great value, it seems, but a lot of wastage.
And pricing is bizarre. In most countries the label price is the price. Sales taxes are included.
If I buy a meal in the rest of the world, the cost of getting it to the table is include. In the U.S., there's an extra charge. It's called tipping. I can't figure out, yet, the hierarchy, who gets a tip, who doesn't.
In europe, for instance, we generally don't tip bar-staff. In some countries of europe, people are offended when you try, because holding out for a tip is akin to begging.
I'd like to see fair and transparent prices, and the same in wages. No business should rely on tips to pay their workforce.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52235b096bb3f75c380baf42Mr ThriftySun, 01 Sep 2013 11:19:37 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52235b096bb3f75c380baf42
>Minimum wage anywhere in the states is pretty much horrible unless you have social benefits.
Relatively few people make the Federal minimum wage. 3% of working males.... and half of them are under age of 25 (typically students/dependents). A couple averaging $12.10/hr each, has already reached the US median household income of $50K, (Many females making minimum, are only supplementing the primary wage earner.) Let's not even talk about the huge underground economy where wages are not even reported...
Single women with children are probably the most disadvantaged segment of the working poor, but they also get the most government support.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52235114ecad04772b0baf2cAsok AsusSun, 01 Sep 2013 10:37:08 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52235114ecad04772b0baf2c
"rich people don't eat cheap food — they tend to eat either home-cooked food which is expensive"
Guess this foreign fool needs to live in the U.S. a few more years: he's got this 100% bassackwards. Ya just gotta love these self-proclaimed foreign expert idiots who think they know everything there is about the U.S. after being here a couple of years.
At any rate, home-cooked food is of course the least expensive of all. What is expensive is prepared foods heated up and restaurant food.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52234f71ecad042e270baf2eTariSun, 01 Sep 2013 10:30:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52234f71ecad042e270baf2e
That's why you round up the amount. So, I'd give $17.50 + $8.50 = $26.00 Problem solved! Or just $25. No biggie! :)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222fe4d69bedd3d3f0baf41Roger C.Sun, 01 Sep 2013 04:43:57 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222fe4d69bedd3d3f0baf41
You don't know any of these poor people do you? The ones you're talking about, that's a cultural issue!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222fc426bb3f74c700baf26Roger C.Sun, 01 Sep 2013 04:35:14 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222fc426bb3f74c700baf26
If it was decent money in Brazil, it should have been easier to get by.
Minimum wage anywhere in the states is pretty much horrible unless you have social benefits.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f77c6bb3f758700baf22Raj HaniSun, 01 Sep 2013 04:14:52 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f77c6bb3f758700baf22
The Indians who move here are usually middle class, not rich or poor. Get your facts straight.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f465ecad048c678b456cLi-Jen ChuSun, 01 Sep 2013 04:01:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f465ecad048c678b456c
1. But people talk about GPA, right?
2. When people flaunt their riches, they still consider their accomplishments private. What private means is that they don't attribute their success to other people. So I think the two sentences are talking about totally different things.
3. This is where India is weird, not America. In most countries you shop alone.
4. When I worked in my home country, nobody tried to put me under the bus. Again, nothing special about the US, at most it's about the strangeness in India.
5. We aren't so collaborative but we don't tear pages either.
6. We turn in incomplete assignments too because we get partial credit, it's better than getting a zero.
7. Fat people are not looked upon here either, but I think we treat them the same.
8. Probably applies to all developed countries. Again, nothing special.
9. Brick house, I agree with this one.
10. Emphasis on physical fitness, probably also apply to most developed countries (Europe, Australia).
..
So, he has valid points, but that's not the "weirdest things about America". At most it reveals the weirdest things about India.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f3086bb3f739568b45a5Raj HaniSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:55:52 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f3086bb3f739568b45a5
Not true. I'm Indian, born in America, and white girls were drawn to me like a magnent. Both in California and in the south (Georgia).
Our friend is probably shy and on the geeky side. If you aren't, and you're Indian, landing a pretty white girl is easy. Having said that, I prefer latinas all the way. Prettier, and with culture that sorta resembles my own (well, at least the educated middle class latinas).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f1c4eab8eafd298b458cBrent FredjeSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:50:28 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f1c4eab8eafd298b458c
Not just "hindus", but Indian-Americans in general. In fact, Indian-Americans have the highest median family income of any group, inclusing the Jews, in America.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f0dbecad04e3518b45b3Brent FredjeSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:46:35 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f0dbecad04e3518b45b3
Hi right on, which H1-B took your job and did a better job at it? LOLhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f0866bb3f7ca5c8b4578Les CharlesSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:45:10 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222f0866bb3f7ca5c8b4578
Such bullshit. You think someone starts a company, then that's it? Without all those Indian and Asian employees, none of those companies would still be viable businesses. Example, it is an Indian who is heading Facebook's mobile ad monetizing strategy. Without guys like hims, fcebook becomes another myspace.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222ecc9eab8ea75208b4594Brent FredjeSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:29:13 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222ecc9eab8ea75208b4594
Funny how you end your rant attacking black kid when in my experience, it's the white kids who are making C's in school and whining about Asians studying too much. LOLhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222eca9eab8ea442c8b457eJakeSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:28:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222eca9eab8ea442c8b457e
What is the big deal with tipping? To determine tip use quick approximation: 1. Take TOTAL bill amount ($34.89 for example). 2. Figure approximately 10% of total ($3.50 from example) 3. Multiply by 2 ($7) if service was good and 1.5 ($5) if service was ok. Leave a tip unless server was extremely negligent and unfriendly.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222eb8e6bb3f7c25a8b4568Brent FredjeSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:23:58 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222eb8e6bb3f7c25a8b4568
Uh, you are kidding me right? And I literally LOL'd when I saw that 34 other people agreed with you! Maybe a lot of bookworm types who post here. I'm under 30, and can tell you American girls are indeed as slutty as Hollywood portrays them as. Did you guys not attend college? Do you not go to bars or clubs??
White girls are skanks and thank g-d for that. BTW, I am speaking about college educated white collar types.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222ea3f69bedd7c108b4597JedSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:18:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222ea3f69bedd7c108b4597
You're off the mark here. Most Americans put down Europe because Europeans are so very arrogant and condescending...especially toward Americans. Europe is nothing special. They love to paint Americans as 'war-mongers' (and they may be correct) but totally skip the fact that THEY were responsible for starting the two deadliest conflicts in history in just the last 100 years. Most Americans don't know (or care) about European unemployment or their dissatisfaction with anything.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222e7ad69bedd511a8b4578AmodSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:07:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222e7ad69bedd511a8b4578
True! American Shopping Experience is just perfect!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222e71469bedd420d8b457cAmodSun, 01 Sep 2013 03:04:52 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222e71469bedd420d8b457c
Somethings you got there are wrong.. but most of them are right.
Shopping experience in US, is beautiful. In India, it's horrible.
Smoking Weed is not taken same as smoking tobacco
And lastly, title should be "Good things about America".http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222e5266bb3f70f3c8b45b2ArlettaSun, 01 Sep 2013 02:56:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222e5266bb3f70f3c8b45b2
Typed up like an ignorant person, who has little to no experience of the real world among any class of people but their own.
There are clichés, "good ol' boy" systems, racial intolerance, sex discrimination, the fact that wealthy parents will actively force discrimination by the public school system against poorer students - even more so if they are excelling academically to the point of making the offspring of the wealthy parent less intelligent than they, simple misfortune of circumstances, bad health care, and many other things that can contribute to what one does or does not achieve in life.
There are many homeless persons who are members of Mensa, and, not all of them are crazy or ill of health.
Having a piece of paper that says you know something, by the way, is no guarantee that you actually learned anything. Nor is not having the piece of paper proof that you are uneducated. It is only proof that you had money to obtain a certificate or that you did not.
I have been discriminated against for all sorts of reasons, ripped off, oppressed, beat up, had people who were supposed to be working toward the good of my children allow them to be abused by my ex-husband because they owed my father money and didn't want to pay him, and all sorts of unjust things, throughout my life, that has led me to where I am, now. I am very, very poor.
It doesn't mean I am unintelligent, or lazy, or that I didn't try. It means that many other people were pushing in the opposite direction, trying to hold me down. It happens to a LOT of people. Sometimes because of the color of their skin, sometimes because of the size of their body, sometimes because someone doesn't like another member of their family and chooses to take it out on someone who is younger or weaker.
You shouldn't generalize, so much. You don't know every story. Not of the poor, nor of the rich or middle class.
For instance, I was working as a caregiver for a man who was on welfare. He and his wife were living in a very ritzy neighborhood. They had expensive clothes, a lovely house, and many memories of wonderful, expensive vacations. They also had a horrifying tale of how he suffered permanent brain injury due to a known complication with a medication that routinely gets ignored or outright lied about by those who manufacture it and those who prescribe it.
He was injured. His wife was not. She had to stay home to take care of him, full time. He had been a very successful man before he suffered his injury. Now, not so long ago, to receive the help they needed, they would have had to sell their vehicle, house, and all other possessions of any value, first, and would have been homeless or, at least, living in an extremely poor neighborhood, where the police never do their job and they get overcharged for the same groceries that can be purchased more cheaply in a richer neighborhood.
But, that's not really the point. The point is, she was not injured. She was not mentally incapacitated and she was not lazy. But, she was on welfare.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222d62169beddc4748b4570RockyMcNutsSun, 01 Sep 2013 01:52:33 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222d62169beddc4748b4570
Well, in America the underclass has its problems, but is universally literate, has clean water and doesn't need to defecate in public places, unlike certain South Asian countries.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222b04deab8ea902c860419TommyBoySat, 31 Aug 2013 23:11:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222b04deab8ea902c860419
Its the same in many Asian cities as well. 25 years ago, it was a rarity to see an obese kid in a Chinese city. Now it's a common enough sight that most people aren't surprised anymore. Chalk it up to the invasion of the western convenience food culture.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222afdc69bedd8f18e06e7eDeb SaidSat, 31 Aug 2013 23:09:16 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222afdc69bedd8f18e06e7e
Are you crazy? Or you just don't know what you're talking about. I've lived in Brazil making decent money, and now I live in the States making minimum wage. Guess which one I prefer?? When it comes down to it, getting by is just so much easier here than in Brazil.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222ac2e69bedda018e06e65DawnSat, 31 Aug 2013 22:53:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222ac2e69bedda018e06e65
India obviously needs to learn the same lesson America does: Construction workers and other trade workers are IMPORTANT!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222a708eab8ea91278603e7DMiller9Sat, 31 Aug 2013 22:31:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222a708eab8ea91278603e7
I understood all the words but I have no idea what this sentence means:"As a result, we have massive positive network externalities and extreme uniformity across all our spaces, despite substantial ethnic diversity."
The American culture and society is not merely a happenstance of history, but a well thought out planned society based on rules and laws and a fairly healthy checks and balances system of government. To say that what we have is mere by chance is missing the larger point. For the most part the society we have today is deliberate, and favors ingenuity, individualism, and risk-taking. We've seen it in the past and hopefully we'll see it in the future but after Government gets out of the way and lets the entrepreneur get to work, the society thrives.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222a2a36bb3f7874d7687catrmSat, 31 Aug 2013 22:12:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222a2a36bb3f7874d7687ca
I wish I could "like" your comment a thousand times!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52228ddb6bb3f7131e76881eAnne-MarieSat, 31 Aug 2013 20:44:11 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52228ddb6bb3f7131e76881e
I agree; the situation might not be as dire as India, but I've been a teacher and I've known many a hungry kid.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222856869bedd3e41e06e7dFormer WaiterSat, 31 Aug 2013 20:08:08 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222856869bedd3e41e06e7d
Tipping is NOT an exact science, and 15% is NOT the law. If service is barely adequate, tip 10% (move the decimal one place to the left) If service is quite good, multiply that number x 2 (or more). If it's mediocre, tip somewhere in between those two limits. No calculator required, unless you can't multiply by 2, which I doubt. In your example, lower limit is 18.00 (round off to the nearest dollar) Upper limit is 18x2=36 (or more, if excellent). 15% would be 18 (~10%) + half of 18 (~5%) = 18+9= $27 QED.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522277eaecad047e01cd4f2aDavid ChamblissSat, 31 Aug 2013 19:10:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522277eaecad047e01cd4f2a
Interesting observations... I would disagree that healthy food is expensive. You can get most fruits and vegetables for $1-$2 a pound. With the exception of the inner cities where they don't have access to grocery stores. That is cheaper than just about any fast food restaurant. Obtaining cheap sources of protein is a little more difficult, but most Americans consume far more protein than they need anyways. The main problem is people not taking accountability or being educated properly about nutrition. It doesn't help that most doctors are clueless about nutrition and healthcare system promotes doing tests over preventive care.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522272fbecad04b968cd4f47Sammy Q.Sat, 31 Aug 2013 18:49:31 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522272fbecad04b968cd4f47
Thoughts on obesity and published ingratiation, hmm...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52226471ecad04fc54cd4f31Roger C.Sat, 31 Aug 2013 17:47:29 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52226471ecad04fc54cd4f31
You don't know how good people have it in other countries. The UK, Russia, India and Thailand, ok, makes sense, but Canada is far better than the US. Not even up for debate. So is Australia.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522260fcecad047f4acd4f7bIt's the Chicago WaySat, 31 Aug 2013 17:32:44 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522260fcecad047f4acd4f7b
Many of the faults that you state are directly the responsibility of government and no doubt they have grown too big to properly address such things as aging bridges.
Instead of funding bridge upgrades Obama chose to bail out auto unions and gift them ownership while stealing from bond holders.
He spent trillions of dollars buying votes --it's the Chicago Way.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222580869beddea62e06e5dAnother IndianSat, 31 Aug 2013 16:54:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222580869beddea62e06e5d
@Sharm Mukherjee -
It's easy to criticize someone else while having not accomplished much yourself. Maybe it's time for some introspection. :)
How many articles have you written that have been publish, my friend? How can you just "assume" that he is lying about his weight etc?
Also, where did you go to school and where do you work? I can guarantee that the kid is already making more money per year than you ever will be.
Instead of being a critic and making comments that are not adding any value, why don't you share some of your more "realistic" insights? Would love to read about some of your observations?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522258036bb3f7e2417687c6aniruddhcSat, 31 Aug 2013 16:54:27 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522258036bb3f7e2417687c6
You're making too many assumptions here. I didn't go after any women :)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522257c469bedde558e06e71aniruddhcSat, 31 Aug 2013 16:53:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522257c469bedde558e06e71
You'd be surprised.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222547669bedda053e06e7faniruddhcSat, 31 Aug 2013 16:39:18 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222547669bedda053e06e7f
I came here straight after high school and I wrote solely based upon my observations at Carnegie Mellon CS, which I think is a pretty good school.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522253c9ecad04ee34cd4f56deepelembluesSat, 31 Aug 2013 16:36:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522253c9ecad04ee34cd4f56
"And yet India probably has better health care for it's working-class people."
Stupid ignorant nonsense.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222516269bedd2c4ce06e7aRBSat, 31 Aug 2013 16:26:10 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5222516269bedd2c4ce06e7a
"People take pride in their hard work and usually do not cheat. This is different from students from India and China as well as back home in India, where everyone collaborates to the extent that it can be categorized as cheating."
I have no idea what university or college you went to in India but whatever it was it must have been a pretty poor one.So it would be better if were to restrict yourself to your own experiences and not generalise about India (and China)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52224863eab8ea0a5e860403Crime and PunishmentSat, 31 Aug 2013 15:47:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52224863eab8ea0a5e860403
.
The punishment for crime needs to by compared.
The U.S. sentences people convicted of various crimes to jail or prison whereas many countries around the globe will cut off your hand for stealing or put a brand on your face for adultry or wack a leg off or cut your head off for some other crime. They don't want to spend the money the U.S. does on incarceration.
By the way, the U.S. incarceration rate is neck and neck with the Seychelles.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52221427eab8ea7976f0fc8cMikel MaronSat, 31 Aug 2013 12:04:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52221427eab8ea7976f0fc8c
> Because labor is cheap in India, there is always someone who will act as a "personal shopper" to assist you with holding
> your clothes, giving suggestions, etc.
HA! As an American, this takes the most getting used to in India when shopping. Mostly feel like that "personal shopper" is just getting in the way!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52220f346bb3f70037c1668aIssaSat, 31 Aug 2013 11:43:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52220f346bb3f70037c1668a
You do see a lot of overweight people in Africa in the citieshttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221e60d6bb3f76567c1665eFive IronSat, 31 Aug 2013 08:48:13 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221e60d6bb3f76567c1665e
Nice talking points but completely not based in reality. Transportation - What number of bridges ready to collapse, 24 hours Amtrak rides between cities that should take only 12 hours to get to by car and almost non-existent public transit service outside of the top 30-40 cities would make that best transport system in the world?
America has "some" of the best schools, not all of the best. I am sure Oxford and Cambridge would take umbrage with your choice of words. Of course, that education debt run up by our students (which is mostly paid for by taxation in the rest of the world) is now the highest debt our young have, surpassing even mortgage debt. That is why you will see a serious reduction (and it has started among young men of all colors) in college attendance. We are creating a wasted generation of male "extras", even more than the Chinese 1 child policy. Lets add in that college is a waste for most people. Companies are lying out their ass saying we need more STEM when there are people with those degrees unable to get work, yet they want H1-B's. It's all about the wages and American wages are heading down the crapper, yet the top 2% are going through the roof (I know as I am reaping a good bit of money supporting the 2% specifically).
Safe neighborhoods - agree. Unless you are involved in illicit activities or domestic violence, the odds of being shot are slim. That being said, those extra, non-college males are in every neighborhood and even in my podunk town, I see the "damage" crimes they cause - drunk driving accidents, vandalism, car thefts, etc. You won't escape that no matter where you live.
Air quality has become much better in the US in general (heck we even met Kyoto without trying). It can be better but it has happened due to regulations REQUIRED by the Govt of We the People. I doubt Con Ed, PPG, Beth Steel and the lot of them would have added scrubbers of their own free will.
I really wish we Americans would get over this immigrants are dying to get here mantra, then we complain that they are illegal! We aren't having millions of Europeans, Chinese, Indian, Aussie's etc clamoring to come here, we have farm workers from south of the border willing to do crap wage jobs that our poor obese minimum wage workers cannot do, physically or mentally. Americans need to get over the crappy propaganda of 'F Yea, 'murica' is the best idea of long ago, and make it happen again with updated infrastructure, education, food security and realistic regulation/taxation overhaul. Oh, and stay the F out of other people's business!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221db8b6bb3f79e4bc166dbmickeymatSat, 31 Aug 2013 08:03:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221db8b6bb3f79e4bc166db
The idea that the poor only have access to unhealthy food is a myth. They choose to eat more of the unhealthy food and it IS expensive contrary to commonly held beliefs by liberals which the writer is surrounded by given his everyday life. Yes, fast food is cheap compared to restaurant food in general but poor people simply make bad choices. Potatoes are an inexpensive food and are not in and of themselves fattening. But preparing them as french fries changes all that. Frozen prepared foods are very expensive. Make your own pizza is cheap. It is also the amounts poor people choose to eat which makes them fat. No one forces you to eat everything on your plate at a restaurant. In fact it is common practice in the U S to ask for leftovers to be packaged up and brought home-not so outside the U S. The author mentions that having coffee at Starbuck's is expensive. True but it is also very fattening. I don't think poor people are having coffee there. Fresh vegetables can be very inexpensive. Watch the sales. But when they are on sale, not just because you fancy them at any given time. At any given time SOMETHING is on sale. Buy it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221d869eab8ea607af0fc9cmickeymatSat, 31 Aug 2013 07:50:01 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221d869eab8ea607af0fc9c
Be generous. Just figure the tip amount based on the total with tax. That way you are tipping more than 15% which is a good idea if service was outstanding.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221cb3069bedd0e1f072c1bReally?Sat, 31 Aug 2013 06:53:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221cb3069bedd0e1f072c1b
Maybe you still a kid, but I have seen How the people do not ask about grades, is more about stabbing others on the back...and cheating? GOD in my experience was horrifying....Beside in here (US) they have the Curve, so depending on the subject, the department etc, there is a policy to grade...and that is for marketing purposes, if you don't get students in your classes you don't get the money...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221bb1a6bb3f70516c16666Grundoon2Sat, 31 Aug 2013 05:44:58 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221bb1a6bb3f70516c16666
You know, I'm 73 years old and have watched my kids, grandkids and great grandkids and nieces/nephews and grand nieces and nephews and dozens of other people in my and later generations. Some successful, some not. The successful ones worked their butts off to get there and the unsuccessful ones sat on their butts. These are all people who had all about the same starting point in life and the only difference in what they got out of life is what they put in. So, as much as it may annoy you to hear it, "lazy" might be too strong a word, but that still is the biggest reason anyone, black, white, red, or yellow, doesn't "make" it in life.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221b392eab8ead336f0fc88Rod kriegerSat, 31 Aug 2013 05:12:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221b392eab8ead336f0fc88
I would change "...not so many..." to "...not AS many..." to make that a more accurate statement. The single mothers to which you speak have put themselves in that unenviable position but financially they need not be suffering because of the plethora of state/federal programs available to cover more than them and their children's basic living expenses. Which, to the casual observer like the author, would make them appear as "equal" as anyone else in the grocery store checkout line or Walmart with their EBT card. Saddling yourself with six kids by several fathers is not a definition of poverty, although it can lead to it, it's a definition of stupidity.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221b2e6ecad04797380de6aSqueek EronSat, 31 Aug 2013 05:09:58 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221b2e6ecad04797380de6a
***Girls are not very promiscuous, contrary to most Hollywood films***
Thank you! Many people, especially in the Near East, have the mistaken notion that American girls are exceptionally loose morally. Not so.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221b05b6bb3f7c173c16664Silly FoolSat, 31 Aug 2013 04:59:07 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221b05b6bb3f7c173c16664
You obviously have never lived outside the US. Expensive food??? Really? A country where if you don't throw at least 15% of the bill to the server you are treated like a plague next time you go back. I love in Asia and went back this summer to visit family, and one thing I noticed, you will not be able to save any money if you go out to eat all the time. Not only is food expensive, but the tipping culture is horrific. Now fools are tipping 20%!!!! For what???? For a fake smile and chitchat?????
And as for entertainment??? WTH are you talking about? Entertainment for Americans is TV... Yeah we have those and movie theaters too, plus amusement parks, public parks, MT bike riding, rafting, gyms, even legal prostitution--something you folks only dream about!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221afe1ecad04617280de5bNadiaSat, 31 Aug 2013 04:57:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221afe1ecad04617280de5b
@Truthsayer you can check out how I see your country. My post will most likely make you be proud of America
<a href="http://nadiavstheworld.com/en/10-powodow-dla-ktorych-pokochasz-ameryke/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >http://nadiavstheworld.com/en/10-powodow-dla-ktorych-pokochasz-ameryke/</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221ab69eab8ea2c18f0fca0jamesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSat, 31 Aug 2013 04:38:01 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221ab69eab8ea2c18f0fca0
Nonsense.
A) Transportation: America has one of the best highway systems on the planet, and decent public transport - not quite European but it exists, very low car, gas and insurance prices. Much lower than Europe.
B) Education? American schools are the best in the world. The thing that makes them crap is the students. There are more bursaries and scholarships in America than anywhere in the world. A truly talented student in America can definitely get access to the best education - and most have access to decent education.
C) 'Safe Neighbourhoods'. Dude - the safety of a neighbourhood is a function of the behavior of it's residents and nothing else. First and foremost 'safety' is not actually a problem for most people - and in ares wherein there is a lack of safety - well, it's not anyone's fault but the people living there. There are plenty of areas in America wherein the poor can live in safety.
D) 'Good air quality where your kids don't get ashma' - actually, America is a vast and open land, and because it's so spread out - the air quality for the average citizen is quite good - far better than Asian and even better than Europe - wherein there is 'no escape'.
E) 'Police protection'? From who? Your neighbours? Because if you and your neighbors create an unsafe environment for yourselves - that that's *your fault* and nobody else's. 99% of America is very safe.
Again - you've shown the hollow arguments of the 99% vs. 1% debate.
It seems you are too ungrateful to realize that air quality and transportation is quite good in most of America - and too stupid to grasp that education is right in front of you.
Every immigrant to America will tell you what a vast and amazing land of opportunity it is - only the brainwashed club of losers of society thinks otherwise.
Funny how poor Asian kids take advantage of everything and are so successful while the black kids don't show up for school and then blame the white man for their ills.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52219bde69beddd92b8b4592CommunalSat, 31 Aug 2013 03:31:42 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52219bde69beddd92b8b4592
Indians are brainwashed to believe that 'voting in elections = democracy'.
China prospered without India's dummy democracy/caste system.
In democracy it's your vote that counts; In feudalism it's your count that votes.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522196cdeab8eada628b459aartful dodgerSat, 31 Aug 2013 03:10:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522196cdeab8eada628b459a
Oh Australia and Canada, together accounting for around 70 million of the world's 6 billion people. I'm sure you've seen plenty. For your information I've also been to Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, India, Thailand, and Brazil. And that's just the beginning.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52218c6069bedd8b078b4594MahhnSat, 31 Aug 2013 02:25:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52218c6069bedd8b078b4594
#2 really??, how many countries has India bombed in the last 10 years for oil companies? Has Monsanto been appointed in charge of their FDA? has their DOJ been selling guns to drug gangs? Do bankers there fund both political parties to ensure they win? Do they spend more money spying on their citizens than providing healthcare, and education to the population?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52218bbfecad04b7318b45b0Paul GriffithsSat, 31 Aug 2013 02:22:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52218bbfecad04b7318b45b0
When I visited the US from the UK some of the things I noticed included:
There seemed to be many more people of colour than depicted in your average American film/TV show that gets to the UK
There were many more overweight people
There seemed to be much higher poverty levels both in run down areas in major cities and also out in country areas.
Food I eat as a savoury dish such as eggy bread (French Toast) arrived with a dusting of icing sugar or whipped cream - disgusting!
Things I had when I was younger and had American friends while living outside the UK like Root Beer and Peanut Butter with Jelly were easy to get: can't find either of these in the UK!
Having to change the cash machine from default Spanish to English in parts of Florida before I could use it.
The cars are huge and petrol cheap.
Speed limits are way too slow so getting from place to place can take forever.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52218b1decad04d9428b456cMahhnSat, 31 Aug 2013 02:20:13 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52218b1decad04d9428b456c
Status to me (an American) is how good of a quality person you are. Which has nothing to do with your job or education. It's how you treat others.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522184d669bedd10058b4578BatmanSat, 31 Aug 2013 01:53:26 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522184d669bedd10058b4578
Few more to add:
1) Why Americans waste toilet paper instead of using hand?
2) Why the officials are not that corrupt as in India?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522182ceeab8eabf3a8b45adLuhaiSat, 31 Aug 2013 01:44:46 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522182ceeab8eabf3a8b45ad
Also you tip before you add sale tax (at least I do), and some receipt don't give pre-tax subtotal. So I have multiply by .92 first, then multiply by .15 for the tip, then add. In any case, it's really a unnecessary step. Why should wait staff be tipped when all they do is bring stuff from the kitchen and take you money, while the cooks, the kitchen hands and farmer workers that's make the food part happen does not...
For me the most surprising thing about America is the abundance of squirrels, rabbits and deer, back in China they can only be seen in zoos.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52217cc66bb3f7a01d8b4592Jeff BergSat, 31 Aug 2013 01:19:02 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52217cc66bb3f7a01d8b4592
Girls are not very promiscuous, contrary to most Hollywood films.
They are, just not with Indian nerds.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52217ba06bb3f70b178b4586JJoseSat, 31 Aug 2013 01:14:08 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52217ba06bb3f70b178b4586
I dont find anything extraordinary about this post. Not sure how it was considered worthy of being posted.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522168e4eab8ea62108b4597Li-Jen ChuFri, 30 Aug 2013 23:54:12 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522168e4eab8ea62108b4597
Not everybody's brain is built for exact math. Now for example if the price is 175.75, you add about 17.5 and 8.75. I'm not able to do that correctly every time.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221642169beddef3b8b456aRoger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 23:33:53 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221642169beddef3b8b456a
I don't think you've ever been to another country in your life.
Seriously, don't listen to this guy. America is one of the worst places I've ever lived in. Australia and Canada are far superior. And that's just the beginning.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522163e1eab8eaf2018b4589Roger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 23:32:49 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522163e1eab8eaf2018b4589
One more thing about American women. What sort of women was he chasing? White women or Indian women? I hate to say it, but whites in America are ultra-racist and elitist. White women will not want to date you unless you're rich, if you're a minority. They will be prudish towards an Indian guy, but for a white guy, it's a different story. He should have looked for Indian women. He probably would have had better luck.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221622cecad04cb718b4575Roger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 23:25:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221622cecad04cb718b4575
If you're doing 20%, just divide the pre-tax total by 5. It's even easier than your unnecessary, ultra-complicated system.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522161a5ecad04d1738b4571artful dodgerFri, 30 Aug 2013 23:23:17 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522161a5ecad04d1738b4571
I don't think anybody in the world could say with a straight face that it is bad to live in the USA. Of course it is one of the best places in the world in which to live. The problem is that it could be SO MUCH MORE than it is were it not for poorly considered government policies. But yes, anybody thinking that things are bad here has not seen how the vast majority of humanity lives.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52216149ecad04326b8b457cRoger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 23:21:45 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52216149ecad04326b8b457c
I know Americans very well. Just saying. I know how they treat you as a visitor, and how they treat you as someone that's going to stay. They can be very nasty when they know you're living there forever.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52215c95eab8ea33728b459bArjunFri, 30 Aug 2013 23:01:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52215c95eab8ea33728b459b
A calculator to figure out 15%??? I'm was a B+ student in India and even i dont need a calculator for that!! ;)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52215c9569bedd39258b458aJimboSFri, 30 Aug 2013 23:01:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52215c9569bedd39258b458a
So American women aren't promiscuous? Which countries have the most promiscuous women? I need to know.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52215ae8eab8eaf0768b4580ArjunFri, 30 Aug 2013 22:54:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52215ae8eab8eaf0768b4580
I don't know why he thinks these are "surprising things about america". (I'm referring to the positives he has listed) Did he really think that ALL american women would be as promiscuous as in the films?? You need to ease up on all that Girls Gone Wild you've been watching, son. Also, where in India did he grow up? I've lived in Bombay for most of my life, also in a couple of other big cities like bangalore, chennai - and a lot of what he has said about the USA holds true here as well.... work-related stuff, studies related stuff - ethics, collaboration.... its all the same in India - at least in the parts where i have lived. I'm surprised that he is surprised to see this in America.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52215a1269bedd39258b4570jalabiFri, 30 Aug 2013 22:50:58 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52215a1269bedd39258b4570
Where you failed is in your assumption that Democrats are anti-capitalistic.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522158ea6bb3f7da588b4585jalabiFri, 30 Aug 2013 22:46:02 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522158ea6bb3f7da588b4585
"Hinduism" is a religion, not an ethnicity.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221578069bedd33258b4574jalabiFri, 30 Aug 2013 22:40:00 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221578069bedd33258b4574
"America developed its economy and culture almost instantly, over only a couple of centuries."
Correction: American society took advantage of hundreds of years of exploitation of slave labor, which gave it quite a head-start over other countries that either didn't enslave hundreds of millions of people over the centuries, or were the source of the enslaved millions.
To paraphrase the late Ann RIchards, white Americans who do not want to confront this horrible truth of our country, believe that we hit a triple when in actual fact we were borne on third base on the backs of enslaved humans.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221537decad04435c8b4568Lester SingletonFri, 30 Aug 2013 22:22:53 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221537decad04435c8b4568
I was in Africa recently and the one thing that I noticed is that even though the majority of people made anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 per year, their food prices were higher than here in the use for most things. I have no idea how they survive over there.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52213de7ecad0474268b45a0PeopleBeforeGreedFri, 30 Aug 2013 20:50:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52213de7ecad0474268b45a0
I think Americans like to believe themselves above others for different reasons: wealth, morality, beauty, patriotism, and ideology. The groupings are specific bases on the topic.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221371469bedd36488b45a2Another IndianFri, 30 Aug 2013 20:21:40 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221371469bedd36488b45a2
@Li-Jen Chu Your opinion seems extremely naive and biased. The writer has made some excellent observations.
Everyone else - "Third World" is probably a term that hasn't been relevant since the 80s. When these countries are growing faster than "First World" countries, you need to update your thinking in to the 21st century!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221357a6bb3f7c21e8b4570Another IndianFri, 30 Aug 2013 20:14:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221357a6bb3f7c21e8b4570
@Roger C. Why are his "conclusions" wrong? Can you provide some examples?
By the way, these are not "conclusions", they're "observations". I'm sure you understand the difference.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221353c6bb3f7c61e8b4577PRFri, 30 Aug 2013 20:13:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221353c6bb3f7c61e8b4577
"Don't like to take sides and form in-groups to gang up on others"???
My friend, have you EVER cracked open a history book, or dealt with anyone who wasn't white or middle-upper class? Your comment beggars belief. America is indeed a wonderful place in many ways, but you're living in a fairy tale if you really think that's how it's been for everyone.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52213457ecad0405228b456cPRFri, 30 Aug 2013 20:09:59 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52213457ecad0405228b456c
Cheap food = unhealthy food = fat people. Poor neighborhood minus decent markets with affordable vegetables and fruit = fat people. Poor or no nutrition education = fat people. You don't really know what you're talking about.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52213381eab8ea43278b4580PRFri, 30 Aug 2013 20:06:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52213381eab8ea43278b4580
You try living in plush American-style poverty and I bet some of those smug, judgmental assumptions would get rethought, and quick.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52213380ecad0404178b4586Another IndianFri, 30 Aug 2013 20:06:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52213380ecad0404178b4586
@Sidneyselt What makes you think he's on cheaper wages? He's a computer science major from a top university, that interned in the Bay area. He's going to start out at a 6 figure salary - not uncommon for a student with his credentials!!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52212cbe6bb3f71a0b8b458eGladys MontesFri, 30 Aug 2013 19:37:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52212cbe6bb3f71a0b8b458e
God Bless AMERICA, of course not compare India with USAhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/52212617eab8ea3d0f8b4573Mark HorningFri, 30 Aug 2013 19:09:11 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52212617eab8ea3d0f8b4573
I know this is a bit of a cliche, but the US is a big place, and regional differences do matter.
African Americans in Technical fields: there are plenty, just not very many in Silicon Valley, because there are not really a lot of African Americans in Northern California. An Aerospace company in Atlanta would have very different demographics from one in AZ.
Produce: Cost of produce is also very regional, in most of the northeast I understand it is quite expensive, in AZ I can usually buy strawberries for under $1/pound. (in season of course) Actually most decent fruit is under $1/lb.
Never seen the "full service rest stops" I think that's an east coast thing.
The American Flag: The US is very different from the rest of the world (especially the Commonwealth countries) in how we look at our flag. In the US, the Flag is considered to belong to "The People" not "The Government". There is actually a set of codified laws on how the flag is supposed to be displayed, but they are never enforced. (doing so would likely be unconstitutional)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52211a0eeab8eacf6e8b4574jeffcoqFri, 30 Aug 2013 18:17:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52211a0eeab8eacf6e8b4574
Obviously the US is better than third world countries. Is this what we are comparing ourselves to now? You cannot compare the richest country in the world with third world countries. I do know that poor people have access to food stamps and that is under attack right now in many states. Some states are cutting food stamps and are coming with all kinds of tests and restrictions to discourage people from getting food stamps.
In some cases, the US is just like a third world country. For example, there is no universal healthcare. Every time there is a free clinic, you have lines of people looking for care. People resort to charities to get healthcare just like it is in third world countries. That is what we see in third world countries. For housing, everytime there is a grant for housing, you have a riot where people are looking for subsidies for section 8 housing.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210d2feab8eaa1598b457fjmcoFri, 30 Aug 2013 17:22:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210d2feab8eaa1598b457f
- Brick homes are less common (in most parts) of U.S. because modern, wood frame is cheaper to build and in some cases, better for earthquakes, repairs, etc. Cities still have many brick buildings East of Mississippi River and where brick is more common, it is used but, only as a veneer over wood frame - replacing vinyl or wood siding or, as an accent only.
- Rest stops on interstates are more common in some states than others. NJ, Ohio seem to have more of them. Other states, less or none. They tend to be on TOLL roads where, they got you!
- Actually, the U.S. is not at all equitable in a classic bell shape like other countries in Western Europe. Most of the wealth here is concentrated on the high end, with a mild bump in the middle and a large mass in the low income portion. Compared to some Scandinavian countries where the ideal bell curve has a vast majority of citizens solidly in lower to upper middle class "dome" and very few poor or very rich at the base. As it should be and was in the U.S. decade ago! I think our Indian student just needs to go to rural black deep south in MS, AL and West Virginia white rural country, Native American reservations, plus some decimated manufacturing cities like Detroit and others in the rust belt (all the jobs went to India and China!) He will see REAL poverty in the form of single pregnant teens, meth addicted parents, abusive husbands, alcoholism, and generations of poor African Americans in the city.
Why did he not see much display of wealth? 1) The rich don't display as much around in public like they used to (maybe in Miami, NYC, and LA still?) 2) The rich are enclaved in places like the The Hamptons, Coastal Maine, Los Altos Hills, etc. Until he befriends a rich friend, he will have NO IDEA!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210cd269bedd60728b457cnemo227Fri, 30 Aug 2013 17:21:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210cd269bedd60728b457c
Well said, especially "Most people make their own luck." Self-determination is inherent in the American spirit. I've also found that some people can be their own worst enemy (which is something I decided to avoid at a very early age).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210ba86bb3f7b5488b4585nemo227Fri, 30 Aug 2013 17:16:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210ba86bb3f7b5488b4585
It was his personal opinion based on his observations. Now, we're waiting for your observations. I'm guessing that you have food and clothing and access to a computer and a basic education. Now tell us about your personal hardships and/or how you have personally helped the downtrodden. There may be a screenplay in there somewhere.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210a62eab8ea2f508b4586tax payerFri, 30 Aug 2013 17:10:58 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210a62eab8ea2f508b4586
if you stopped watching 24 news networks you probably wouldn't be so bummed.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210a176bb3f7c84a8b4585nemo227Fri, 30 Aug 2013 17:09:43 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210a176bb3f7c84a8b4585
I thought I had kept that a secret :-(http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221091a69bedd276d8b4583nemo227Fri, 30 Aug 2013 17:05:30 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221091a69bedd276d8b4583
Yeah, sometimes our government "sucks" but I'll give them a grade school report card grade: "Needs improvement. Not working at full potential. Needs to learn to play well with others."
Ah, hell, yes, most of our government sucks in a major way.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522107e66bb3f7ba488b457anemo227Fri, 30 Aug 2013 17:00:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522107e66bb3f7ba488b457a
Are you one of those "the glass is half empty" kind of people?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522107ac69bedd82748b456aCubeJockeyFri, 30 Aug 2013 16:59:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522107ac69bedd82748b456a
Wait, I thought all Americans were egotistical a$$holes?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210757ecad0418458b457cnemo227Fri, 30 Aug 2013 16:57:59 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52210757ecad0418458b457c
That was fun to read.
I have always enjoyed talking to visitors from other countries. My first couple of questions are usually, "What was the biggest surprise on your first day in the USA? and/or What did you expect when you got off the plane on your first visit to the USA?" Some of the comments I received: The USA is much larger than I expected. The people seem to be much more open and friendly here.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221052feab8ea7e468b4591joe prairiesFri, 30 Aug 2013 16:48:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221052feab8ea7e468b4591
and you think you are so clever and classless and free
but you re still a fuck*ng peasant as far as I can see
Working Class Hero, John Lennon (1970)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522102d96bb3f7cd3f8b4576sally885Fri, 30 Aug 2013 16:38:49 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522102d96bb3f7cd3f8b4576
How does it take you 30 min to make coffee? I put filter, coffee and water in coffee maker before going to bed. when i get up to take a shower i turn it on...and it's done by the time i'm out of the shower. takes literally one minute of time.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221012eecad04883a8b457eSameerFri, 30 Aug 2013 16:31:42 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5221012eecad04883a8b457e
I find this article to be both naive and small minded. As others have mentioned, America's poor are simply less visible; this doesn't mean they don't exist. I also laughed out loud when he said that just about all Americans enjoy the same standard of living.
The only Indians who can afford to come here to study for school are India's obscenely rich. They move from rich areas in India to rich areas here in the United States. So, I expect his perspective to be severely biased. I'd like to see what he says after a few years of living here.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220ff8e69bedd3b608b4578zibitsFri, 30 Aug 2013 16:24:46 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220ff8e69bedd3b608b4578
Democrats, pay attention: capitalism works. Our system isn't as broken as you think it is. It's not perfect, but it's a damn good one that has increased the standard of living across the entire society.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220fec869bedd6c588b4588tutFri, 30 Aug 2013 16:21:28 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220fec869bedd6c588b4588
You sound like a little bitch.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220fe34ecad04f1358b457bA EuropeanFri, 30 Aug 2013 16:19:00 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220fe34ecad04f1358b457b
Yes I think that living standards in Germany and Singapore are much better than Third World countries in general. India still has malnourished children and shocking level of poverty.
Americans love to compare themselves to big Third World countries I have noticed (I have lived in the US for 20 years and another 20 years in Switzerland) because it makes them feel great about their country. Conversely, most Americans love to put down Europe, painting it as a place where there is high unemployment, taxes, and general frustration and insatisfaction among the population. This is, by the way, not the attitude of most Americans I have met who have actually lived for an extended period of the time in, let's say, a first of the line, European country ( such as a Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, etc).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220fb83ecad04df358b457bBill_GFri, 30 Aug 2013 16:07:31 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220fb83ecad04df358b457b
Tipping is ridiculous. The standard has historically been 10 to 15% but the servers and former servers have been guilting people into 20 and 25% for years now. And even then they make you feel cheap. They're servers - not my children. I shouldn't have to be generous to them. I should pay them what I owe them just like any other business. What they get from their employer isn't my problem.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f9a1eab8ea47368b4575JRFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:59:29 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f9a1eab8ea47368b4575
Um, facebook was invented by a couple US college students, and Google was invented by a Russian-American and an American guy. Microsoft--American. iAnything--American. Just because they employ Indians or Chinese or whatever doesn't mean that they didn't start the companies with their own American inventions.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f88fecad044d2f8b4577JRFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:54:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f88fecad044d2f8b4577
Most adults in the US don't need a calculator to figure out the tip, because they've learned some basic mathematics in school (most likely by middle school). Figure out what 10% is (just move the decimal). Remember that number, and cut it in half. Add the half to your original number (that I just told you to remember). Boom. 15%. Got really great service? Even easier...Figure out 10% (move the decimal) and double--or triple--it. 20% or 30%. Easy-peasy.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f75b69bedd96508b456cBill_GFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:49:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f75b69bedd96508b456c
A half an hour? What kind of coffee are you making? It doesn't even take the coffee maker a half an hour to make coffee and your only involvement in that process is dumping in some coffee and water and that might take two minutes. The line at Starbucks is certainly longer than that.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f6f3eab8ea77318b4572André Kenji De SousaFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:48:03 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f6f3eab8ea77318b4572
Prashanth (Hey, we have the same surname!)
Providing good healthcare to poor rural regions is the biggest challenge of ANY Public Healthcare System. - India, that has dozens of millions of people living in isolated areas, faces an extremely difficult challenge. I´m glad that India is making progress on that, and I´m sure that the country is on the right track.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f48d6bb3f7ed298b456aBill_GFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:37:49 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f48d6bb3f7ed298b456a
Our underclass still gets food and indoor plumbing though. In a third world country like India those people live on the streets and beg for their food. The standard of living between the middle class and poor are much closer here.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f3ebeab8eaf3298b457bBill_GFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:35:07 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f3ebeab8eaf3298b457b
If we'd gotten national government from France or Germany then we'd have a multiparty system instead of this ridiculous duopoly. Sounds like a good move to me.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f31cecad0469208b458cAndré Kenji De SousaFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:31:40 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f31cecad0469208b458c
India is a poorer country than the US, but it´s also one where´s poverty is much more visible. The fact that several people can´t see poor people in the US does not means that they don´t exist.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f27feab8ea24258b457cBill_GFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:29:03 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f27feab8ea24258b457c
How would having someone following you around while shopping make shopping a more pleasurable activity? Also, as an engineering grad, I can confirm that the Indian students cheated like crazy.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f2686bb3f7be238b4578André Kenji De SousaFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:28:40 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f2686bb3f7be238b4578
No, you would. Even people living in favelas and things like that have access to basic healthcare - I knew dozens of very poor people with diabetes, they have access to regular visits to the doctor and they access to insulin. It´s true, it´s much more difficult to have access to doctors in many poorer areas the interior of the country, and there dozens of problems that plagues Brazilians, specially things like crime and Public Transportation.
But things like access to basic healthcare and to basic things like vacations and paid maternity leaves makes a difference. Living with the minimum wage in the United States is nothing better than living in the Emerging World.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f12beab8ea91258b4570hammermanFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:23:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f12beab8ea91258b4570
It makes me laugh when people say "ughh I hate this country so much because of things like MTV, taxes, government.
Have you ever tried living anywhere else? In Europe you live in tiny places, eat expensive food, have less options for entertainment and will pay a lot more of your income then you think. Unless you are among the top 1% then life everywhere is about the same.
Americans really don't understand how good they have ti here...Yes we have our ethical, government and social issues, but we are a country formed by 1,000's of other countries ideas all in one.
yeah we all wont fit like a puzzle but when two opposing ideas, religions or methods understand each other they create something new and better than what either of them could do before.
I wouldn't leave this country; unless of course I had a hundred million dollars +http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f0ee69bedde4438b456cDejanFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:22:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220f0ee69bedde4438b456c
Well, here's more.
1. When I came to the USA for the first time I was a bit anxious about crime. Came to a hotel room in Houston, found 5 different locks on the door and a big warning/ waiver/ instruction on how to protect myself against theft. So I started carrying everything of value with me, leaving money in the safe and stuff like that. Three days later I was leaving my wallet, laptop just like that in the room. Every time I came back I would find a chocolate mint next to it. I had to write a note that the money I left was for them (cleaning ladies).
2. I thought Washington is filthy. Due to Lufthansa meal I had to storm to the airport toilet and was dreading it. Man, when I came in, I wanted to move in there. Fantastic clean. I made sure I left it the same way when I got out (30 mins later).
3. People are open and want to help. Sooooo not American stereotype. All it takes is to lock with somebody's eyesight for more than 3 seconds and he/she would smile and say something like "Hi, how are you?". That was a shock for me. (Never been to New York City, obviously).
4. I wanted to shop where locals shop. Not to pay stupid tourist tax. Prices? Oh my God. I spent $400 for stuff I would pay 10x more back home.
5. More on prices. $4 for gallon of petrol. Everybody over there panicking how expensive it is. I pay 2,5 times more for that back home. Although, you have to wage Saudi Arabia's wars for them for that :P
6. Public transport at 3am. Everybody nice, quite, helpful (I had ischiadicus). Even drunk ones. (this is San Francisco)
And on, and on, and on....http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220edeb6bb3f719148b4588chad_strategicFri, 30 Aug 2013 15:09:31 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220edeb6bb3f719148b4588
Generally, I agree. It's to bad our government totally sucks!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220eb3e69bedd87318b457dGifts From Nepal.comFri, 30 Aug 2013 14:58:06 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220eb3e69bedd87318b457d
One things I would add is the perception of Cops. Anywhere is South Asia, cops are often treated with no respects - mostly because they are never on time, do not have much authority (for eg. only a few high ranked cops carry guns) and are often incompetent. Police officers in the US are mostly highly ethical, often athletic (except for mall cops) and very trust able.
My 2 cents.
Wes,
www.giftsfromnepal.comhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220eb2aeab8ea59178b4578BenTKWillisFri, 30 Aug 2013 14:57:46 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220eb2aeab8ea59178b4578
Some stats on the amount of food wasted every year in America:
<a href="http://statspotting.com/165-billion-food-thrown-away-by-americans-every-year/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >http://statspotting.com/165-billion-food-thrown-away-by-americans-every-year/</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220e5b1eab8eaf40a8b4582JZ41Fri, 30 Aug 2013 14:34:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220e5b1eab8eaf40a8b4582
The reason for the much more expensive single sodas and such is "convenience". People just thirst for a soda don't want to buy 12 and lug them around with them. Companies take advantage of this short sightedness here and jack up individual soda prices.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220def1ecad04af7d8b4570Roger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 14:05:37 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220def1ecad04af7d8b4570
You are not experiencing America like how I am. People do curse. People are NOT nice. You just didn't see the true selves of people.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220de4decad04b97d8b4568Roger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 14:02:53 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220de4decad04b97d8b4568
That's largely because most Indians that come to America are skilled. There are poor ones out there, but because they value education, they tend to move up a lot.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220db6e69bedda405cc5babMr ThriftyFri, 30 Aug 2013 13:50:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220db6e69bedda405cc5bab
>75 cents for every 5 dollars
Too complex. 10% is just moving the decimal point one place to the left.. 15% is half again more or double for 20%http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d7dceab8eab168cc5ba2Vivek MathurFri, 30 Aug 2013 13:35:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d7dceab8eab168cc5ba2
I agree with most of the article, except the shopping and brick homes part. I have lived both in India and the US, and the Indian shopping experience is too intrusive, and has little to recommend it unless you like someone hovering over your shoulder to hold things for you. I like to browse on my own, and ask for help if I need it.
In India, "salespeople" generally outnumber the customers, and if you have questions on, say, an electronic item, they have little to no knowledge of it. Retail chains in India do not take the time to educate or train their salespeople on product knowledge. I find the most knowledgeable are the ones who own their own stores(the little hole-in-the-wall ones), who are veritable encyclopedias on their merchandise. An example: I went to a used-book store in Bangalore, and asked for a rather obscure book. The owner not only had heard of the book, he knew exactly where it was! I asked for another book, and he regretfully informed me that he did not have it, but would keep an eye out for me. Now THAT is customer service, and he didn't need no stinkin' computer!
I like shopping(and dining and simply walking about) in the US, especially in the grocery stores. Grocery shopping in India is sheer madness and, frankly, an aggravating chore to be got through. And the less said about India's meat and vegetable markets, the better. It is certainly not "fun/nice"! And finally, about the brick homes: India has brick homes, because they cannot afford anything better. Middle-class brick homes all over the country have wires and things strung randomly all about: electric wires, telephone wires, cable wires, clotheslines, etc. Water pipes run on the outside, as do toilet waste pipes. Wiring runs in conduits which are plastered over, making re-modelling or even relocating light fixtures and power outlets an absolute nightmare. Internal plumbing is similarly concealed in the brick walls, making any sort of plumbing work difficult(and plenty of it needs to be done on a regular basis!). There is absolutely no sense of esthetics in "tying things together' to make it a seemly whole. Brick homes in the US cost more because, unlike in India, American labor is more expensive than the bricks, and because the home's infrastructure must still be concealed as well as accessible. In India, it costs vastly more to build an American-style home, or else they would be doing it everywhere right now.
All in all, though, good observations.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d652eab8eac563cc5b9cMr ThriftyFri, 30 Aug 2013 13:28:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d652eab8eac563cc5b9c
>really good education...good role models....
Unfortunately, you can't "make" parents, sports thugs, and hip-hoppers, be good role models. This is a cultural issue, that only seems to be getting worse.
Most of "education" time is wasted dealing with disruptive students distracting the other students. None of the "3 R's" is "Rocket science". Simply being literate is 95% of the battle. If only students that wanted to learn were allowed in class, a lot more learning would get done, IMO. Kick a few losers to the curb and learning might even become "enjoyable" and "cool" again...... Tough Love..http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d6006bb3f74567da2e52another IndianFri, 30 Aug 2013 13:27:28 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d6006bb3f74567da2e52
This definitely does not represent the common view of students from India. Some items appear more aligned with a youngster with less an year of work experience and maybe no post graduate education from India to compare it against.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d44569beddeb7ccc5b92duanebidouxFri, 30 Aug 2013 13:20:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d44569beddeb7ccc5b92
For those who posted the comparison makes them feel pretty good about being American I would say I feel pretty good about being American and living in America--however don't forget the comparison IS to India.
On another point and his comparison to portion sizes in restaurants: I married a French lady 29 years ago and so got a French family who started coming here. After three or four meals in a restaurant my Father-in-law and mother-in-Law and their two kids who would visit started order a single meal at restaurants and splitting it four ways. They were both shocked at the number of obese people and the massive quantities served for one person at restaurants.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d2506bb3f7695cda2e54Mr ThriftyFri, 30 Aug 2013 13:11:44 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220d2506bb3f7695cda2e54
> If you make your own coffee before leaving for work, making the coffee costs you 1/2 hour,
Oh please. My mom had a "Time All" timer connected to the percolator in the 1960's. For years, drip coffeemakers have come with built-in clock/timers. You can have the coffee ready before you even get out of bed. In my case, I pour a mug and drink it in the car (it's called multi-tasking). It would drive me crazy to have to make a special stop for coffee on the way to work and stand in line(s) to order and pay...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220cbff6bb3f7cf55da2e3eRockwellFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:44:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220cbff6bb3f7cf55da2e3e
And yet BI will continue to rant on and on about how the poor and middle class have it so bad in America...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220caa869bedd7268cc5b8cOdd FogeyFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:39:04 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220caa869bedd7268cc5b8c
Ah, to be young and easily influenced--slouching towards total assimilation in Silicon Valley and at MIT. As with many immigrants or students who come to this country, it is easier to look around and say, "Hey, you idiot natives, you don't know how good you have it." Many of his observations are about access but not everyone has access to the things he observes and declares as good; yet also questions, (bad ingredients in food?). He states that poor people eat bad food and rich people eat good food. It doesn't make sense to him (I'm glad) yet he exercises choice, unlike those fat badly treated, and unhealthy-food-eating natives who live in a country that markets over the globe, claims of overall wealth and the good life--probably showing overweight people to starving millions. I wonder what the writer would think about the movie Elysium. My country once offered more of us access to its goods and services, (no matter how healthy or deadly), by way of employment and implored us to spend--not save for a rainy day. Also, I see the observer is not immune to racial propaganda about the station of 'black people', as if they are a monolith. We could say so much about the caste system in India as well as the status of women who are fighting for basic rights and legal recognition aginst sexual abuse. But I digress. I hope that if he stays, he will go and talk to those 'blacks'; fat people; the willfully under-educated, and folks who paid their taxes instead of hiding them, and who now need a safety net until, oh, I don't know, the Job Creators actually began to create jobs and pay their share of taxes. But I must remember, this is Business Insider and therefore, the slant is always in favor of business, no matter how some major businesses practices become sleazy or destructive. I used to be an optimist, I am not a pessimist but I find it important to be a realist now that I am older.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c88169beddb564cc5b8dLenoFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:29:53 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c88169beddb564cc5b8d
I spent a year in the US and like you, I was also surprised that America is far from what Hollywood makes it out to be. Hollywood is doing the US a disservice an really contributes to the fact that Americans have such a bad reputation around the world.
I was really surprised at how helpful, pleasant and hospitable they are (and i could vouch for 10 states). It was the last thing I expected. I am from an developing country and something that really bugged me about the Americans was that they have no idea how privileged they are. Yesterday on CNN i saw that unskilled workers are demanding a minimum wage increase from $8 to $12 per hour. Hell! I am an experienced professional with 2 degrees and I seldom make $10 /hr. The "poor" person they interviewed was sitting an beautiful apartment, decorated, well dressed, saying that they are struggling. I wished I was living like that. Poverty is very relative in the US.
I found that most Americans doesn't know what goes on in the world (not all, but most)
They are extremely wasteful and it is very sad to see.
The extremely short skirts the girls wear (even to church) is shocking. In Africa you would only see hookers wear those.
Very surprising to me is how proper people are. In 11 months of being in the US i only heard the F word twice. "Hell" and "ass" are swear words in the US where as in Africa it is far from it.
I was really surprised at how beautiful it is:) and i would definitely visit againhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c7e56bb3f70a4dda2e4epolygon pusherFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:27:17 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c7e56bb3f70a4dda2e4e
I'll knock out that op-amp or data converter 5 times as fast as a dilettante layout designer or some contractor. You are correct, specialization is the key and experience trumps everything else.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c65469beddf55dcc5b89Sebas SadeFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:20:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c65469beddf55dcc5b89
One thing overlooked, probably because he has moved almost or entirely in an academic environment while living in the states---is the deeply-rooted anti-intellectualism that runs through American culture. You see it especially in American films, literature, even educational texts where language and concepts are simplified to the point of absurdity so that the slowest-witted may follow along at the expensive of everyone else. Also, in no other country have I seen so many people willing to boast of not knowing something or not wishing to learn, as if ignorance is a badge of pride.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c5566bb3f70c4dda2e39Native AfricanFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:16:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c5566bb3f70c4dda2e39
I wouldn't mind to take place with single mothers in Bronx, India or Native Americans in South Dakota reserve if I was middle class in Brazil. Reason is, the Middle class in Brazil does nothing but laying on the shoulders of the lower classes and have no influence in society. It's just a burden. More than social gap filled by compulsive borrowers. Sometimes you wonder if there is a middle class anyway cause everything in Brazil seams to be pretty damn straight to Lower, no income families with limited access to basics and the upper classes who refuse to share the wealth. And , yes! You are absolutely right...a native from the Americas is called American and that goes from the Amazonian to Alaska if you are a natural descendent.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c459ecad04974bdc35bdmurfisFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:12:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c459ecad04974bdc35bd
It helps to hear somebody's perspective about your own sometimes, especially when it's presented in this manner that's not offensive and easy to accept and agree with.
Am an immigrant myself(12 years), and i will not trade being in this country for any other place in the universe.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c325eab8ea9642cc5b8bDave FFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:07:01 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c325eab8ea9642cc5b8b
I personnally find the attitudes or our 'betters' in government, in academia, in journalism, to be highly brazen and disgusting. But I do agree that it is increasing by the day.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c1ea6bb3f78c46da2e3bDave FFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:01:46 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c1ea6bb3f78c46da2e3b
After all, we are all the people the rest of the world didn't want.
Personnaly, I think that that is the whole point. Those Europeans, who our masters in DC think we should be emulating, very much wanted us out. My forefathers left Europe fleeing for their lives. Why because they believed in God. They went to a church that the government did not approve of. Fortunately it is different in America, I personnally think that that is infact the some inherent excellence we have. It is no small think. I have lived in Europe and seen the hopes of the down-trodden of the old world. Everyone wants to come to American. If they can't get to America, they want to go to England. If they can't get to England, they will take France or Germany. If not there, the rest of Western Europe will have to do. Otherwise, unless there is serious shooting going on, they'll stay home. For some reason, nobody wants to go to Cuba or China or Saudi Arabia or Iran.
But I don't think that it is a happenstance of history. I believe it (the American Revolution) was one of a small number of occasions where God intentionally intersected with human history. The number of outlandlishly great persons involved in our revolution is something I cannot see as accidental.
I frequently joke that we were lucky to get our ideas of national government from England and local government from Germany in the 17th Century. But is is no joke. What if we had gotten our ideas of government from France? Hatii, The Congo?? Local government from England where the mayor of London is the Lord Mayor? I'll Pass. Won't even delve into where we might be if our ideas of national government had come from Germany. We are indeed very lucky. Most people make their own luck.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c14669bedd3b4ccc5bbcKMarxFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:59:02 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c14669bedd3b4ccc5bbc
The only return policy I am interested in is when that guy can return to his 8th world sh*t hole.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c03c6bb3f7aa3dda2e5cHerbFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:54:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220c03c6bb3f7aa3dda2e5c
I calculate the tip in my head and round it up. It's not about exactitude.
If you want it exact you can often ask the restaurant staff to figure it on a credit card bill and they will.
So, good at math or not?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bfdfeab8ea7e3dcc5b87NonsenseFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:53:03 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bfdfeab8ea7e3dcc5b87
Invented in USA? by whom, americans? Ever seen the demographic mix of the companies?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bec6ecad04df41dc35d0Steve62Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:48:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bec6ecad04df41dc35d0
I've always liked the U.S. itself, it's the people who live here who annoy the **** out of me.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220be186bb3f72640da2e3bInconvenienceAgainFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:45:28 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220be186bb3f72640da2e3b
Absolutely: those republican billy-bob government dependent federal spending addict welfare queen states really do suck, and it costs we producing taxPAYERS almost 700 BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR to feed them and keep them in free phones.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bce069bedd374ccc5b86Indian reacts to Indian dudes opinionFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:40:16 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bce069bedd374ccc5b86
PS he totally forgot to comment on the mainstream media.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bc8d69bedd2b47cc5ba7Indian reacts to Indian dudes opinionFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:38:53 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bc8d69bedd2b47cc5ba7
I agree with some of them like Americans having strong ethics, private lifestyle, girls, coffee, Americans waste a lot of food and emphasis on fitness but the rest seems to be more of his opinion or from Mumbai not really from south. What we think is no such thing as poverty in America, people in general are fat, w&&d is better than cigarettes in American culture and the rest.
So don't take it as general Indian opinion may be just from the western or northern part of India.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bbdd69bedd2947cc5b8bAniruddh ChaturvediFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:35:57 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bbdd69bedd2947cc5b8b
Lol what makes you say that?
I have absolutely no problem getting a job. Take a look at my LinkedIn =)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bbd5eab8ea0232cc5b9cSteve BonserFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:35:49 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bbd5eab8ea0232cc5b9c
Virtually everything he mentions is true in most western industrialized nations (Canada, UK, western European nations) with the exception of the staggering choice of products in supermarkets and wasting of food. These countries also tend to have a less polarized citizenry (politically) and a more global perspective of current events. I'm surprised he didn't comment on how lousy U.S. television news is as most tourists notice it right away and are shocked by it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bb40ecad04b835dc35caAniruddh ChaturvediFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:33:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bb40ecad04b835dc35ca
Haha, I'd be down for that :Phttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220badbecad044938dc35c1bdbrFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:31:39 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220badbecad044938dc35c1
I don't think there is any law that requires a tipping system - it's more of a custom. It doesn't really work (people will tip nearly the same for fairly poor service), and many (perhaps most) people don't like it, but if one restaurant decided to eliminate tipping their customers would probably get turned off by the higher menu prices - even if it was the same amount they'd be paying after tipping.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bad869bedd8044cc5b8eDude...Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:31:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bad869bedd8044cc5b8e
DO NOT compare Louisiana to Detroit!!!!!!!!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bad0eab8eafd31cc5b93Sharm MukherjeeFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:31:28 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220bad0eab8eafd31cc5b93
Interesting but predictable observations--he's a kid of course. I liked the "dearth of African Americans" in the Hi-Tech field to be interesting. I thought he confuses absence of "flaunting" with "privacy." Rather, it's courtesy and humility, both often a prerequisite for peaceful cohabitation among diverse people in civil society. There is a lot of flaunting of riches and grades in South Asia, Africa, large segments of Latin America, but the said flaunting is comparatively muted in South East Asia. About the fat/thin dichotomy, Indians (esp. new arrivants) are generally perceived as skinny to the extreme and I'm surprised Aniruddh had to "lose" weight to gain more "respect". I believe he's made that one up. If he believes the rich are thin here, he's not quite accurate. The rich are fleshly in parts of the nation where there is relatively less "urbanity" and the educated elite less omnipresence. Then there is the "personal shopper" issue: Indians experience a lot of "pleasure" when servants and helps are around. Shopping is a "pleasurable activity" because of "cheap labor?" Somebody ought to stuff the kid's mouth with some Amartya Sen:-) On the whole, no fresh insights, not much original thinking involved and the kid needs to travel widely in the U.S. before he is asked these questions. His responses are good as "campus responses."http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220b6c1ecad042c2bdc35d1rbwFri, 30 Aug 2013 11:14:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220b6c1ecad042c2bdc35d1
Wow, we take a lot for granted. Great post.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220b5506bb3f7802cda2e43Nobody!Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:08:00 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220b5506bb3f7802cda2e43
So its the Third world!! and Germany and Singapore are better than 3rd world!!???? you know the population density of Singapore, its 3rd in the world and it means F'ed up all the way. hey having better currency value and glittering malls doesn't mean its all good. Stop with your "the European" view !!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220b47969bedd5e32cc5ba3gia123456Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:04:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220b47969bedd5e32cc5ba3
India is a Dirty filthy polluted country . Take a look at some pics of Calcuttahttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220b43c6bb3f7142cda2e45mike 123Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:03:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220b43c6bb3f7142cda2e45
The kid is kissing a$$ to get a job in the USA.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220afc769bedd8428cc5b9dtroobleFri, 30 Aug 2013 10:44:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220afc769bedd8428cc5b9d
Great article. You have a bright future!
America developed its economy and culture almost instantly, over only a couple of centuries. As a result, we have massive positive network externalities and extreme uniformity across all our spaces, despite substantial ethnic diversity. That's why I am very optimistic.
Of course, we shouldn't pat ourselves on the back. It's a happenstance of history, not due to some inherent excellence that we have. After all, we are all the people the rest of the world didn't want.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220ae40ecad042320dc35cbPhaniFri, 30 Aug 2013 10:37:52 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220ae40ecad042320dc35cb
Parth Vasa: you are so incorrect. You used word facebook- who created that. What about Google, Microsoft, iPhone, iPad..... the whole world uses the tech invented and innovated IN USA.
Eat your words- there isn't much going on up in their heads!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220accfeab8eac612cc5b98PhaniFri, 30 Aug 2013 10:31:43 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220accfeab8eac612cc5b98
Even I always wondered about it. It's the same even in India and other places I guess. The reason I think is its the body ecosystem, habit and like cigarette addiction.
The same argument goes with why average people (not fat not lean) don't spend time trying to be fit than they are. But rely on drugs and medication.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a8b5ecad04d312dc35d3John TillmanFri, 30 Aug 2013 10:14:13 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a8b5ecad04d312dc35d3
He will make more money than 90% of Americans do. I was shocked to learn that Hindus (don't know if the guy is or not but, I am assuming he is) are one of the richest ethnicity after Jews in the US.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a88769bedd3f1bcc5b8cLucius ModernusFri, 30 Aug 2013 10:13:27 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a88769bedd3f1bcc5b8c
counterpoint:
"Almost every single person in America has access to basic food, clothing, water and sanitation. I haven't been to states like Louisiana and cities like Detroit, but from what I can tell, nobody is scrambling for the basic necessities required for sustenance."http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a827eab8ea7606cc5ba6Lucius ModernusFri, 30 Aug 2013 10:11:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a827eab8ea7606cc5ba6
assimilation in full effect:
"Reason why I know this is that I went down from being 210lbs to 148-150lbs. The way people started treating me when I was thin was generally way better than the way I was treated when I was fat. As a small example, the Starbucks baristas were much nicer to me and made me drinks with more care / love. "http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a5236bb3f7200bda2e4cJohn ChuFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:58:59 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a5236bb3f7200bda2e4c
" If you make your own coffee before leaving for work, making the coffee costs you 1/2 hour,"
How do you make your coffee? Ever heard of Keurig? Press a button and you are done. 1/2 hour to make coffee?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a50a69bedd7f16cc5b8bAmerican PieFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:58:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a50a69bedd7f16cc5b8b
I think he's wrong about fat people... sadly. There are way too many overweight educated adults who still eat like dumb pre-teens. Makes no sense. How can you consider yourself an intelligent person but walk around looking like a cancerous tumor waiting to explode??? I personally work with some super bright people, but they cannot pull it together when it comes to their health and it really makes me question their core intelligence and our schooling and testing in America.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a42cecad047e09dc35d0A EuropeanFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:54:52 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a42cecad047e09dc35d0
It is the perspective of someone from the third world. I don't mean that to put America or Americans down in anyway; but this article would be much more balanced if it were written by someone from say Germany or Singapore.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a287ecad041e05dc35d0krypticFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:47:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a287ecad041e05dc35d0
Then you clearly don't understand what he was saying. Try visiting India.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a287eab8ea8c76cc5bacThomasVFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:47:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a287eab8ea8c76cc5bac
I was 6 months in the US as part of an exchange program (I live in Belgium, yes that small country in Europe) and I can confirm everything you say here.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a08fecad04f602dc35ddRight on the MONEYFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:39:27 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220a08fecad04f602dc35dd
Sabrina Sabrina, i love you so,,, and you have it exactly right... It's a SOCIAL thing, another "fad" ,,, and that's almost all it is,,, and a LAZY thing,,,
Wife and I working, sometimes, in different states, but though she made breakfast for me, it was MY coffee thing I did NOT want her to do
I had to have it fresh ground every morning, but it may have taken me ten minutes max out of my a.m. routine
this guy has it exactly right about the really incredible money wasted on high dollar coffeehttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/52209f8e6bb3f74502da2e57hammermanFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:35:10 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52209f8e6bb3f74502da2e57
awesome article.
My favorite point is status symbols.
It's true; the real merit of status in the US is Job and Educational attainment.
Otherwise if it was money cars and clothes Miley Cyrus, Kim Kardashian and Dennis Rodman would be noble classy people.
Money can't buy class...America proves that.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52209a3e69bedde475cc5b9cSidneyseltFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:12:30 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52209a3e69bedde475cc5b9c
Aniruddh fails to realize what his words promotes to the business community...bring in the foreigner to work for less...keep an American from working in his home country. Rather condescending for a brown person who has not faced the social ills of being non-white USA...maybe the night light has not made him look Latino, black or native in the "wrong" part of town. He must have some level of affluence in India for he has obtained an education there, and had the income to come to the US and live on lower wages. He is correct that there is prejudice in various fields towards blacks, and he fails to recognize that in the US many employers tend to hire those who look like them in various fields like his own...it not always about "best qualified" or "motivated to succeed." His experience in low-income communities reveals he doesn't understand the foundation of why access to healthy food may not be possible, or the "healthy" food was shipped in from the leftovers from the suburbs and half rotten at premium prices...why not eat fast food, at least it appears fresher even though it may not be healthier. Corporations that have portfolios where they invest in various industries do not care about the health of Americans as they want the cycle of bad food to lead to bad health to lead to improper care. Then there is healthcare, which Obamacare will help level the playing field, but obtaining good health care without breaking one's savings (if you have savings) is almost impossible. He has a very limited view of who America's citizens are and who makes up the demographics of America today. It would very informative for him during his last year(s) on his "B" visa he would get to see a greater diversity of people in this country...he'd learn quite a lot that American freedom is not free or cheap.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52209165ecad042761dc35e8dybbukFri, 30 Aug 2013 08:34:45 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52209165ecad042761dc35e8
Part of the reason that tipping is expected & desired is that waitstaff are paid significantly less than minimum wage - $2.13/hr - and are expected to make up the difference in tips. I am pretty sure they would love to just get paid a regular wage instead, but for right now, that's how the law works.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52208f8c69beddc268cc5b85SSFri, 30 Aug 2013 08:26:52 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52208f8c69beddc268cc5b85
HENRY DO THE KID A FAVOR
Invite him to your Greenwich polo club. Otherwise a good article, nice, thoughtful, young man.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52208ad6ecad04e058dc35dcguestmumbaiFri, 30 Aug 2013 08:06:46 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52208ad6ecad04e058dc35dc
The high level of incarceration is also because a lot of folks get arrested. And a good number get convicted and serve time. In India you can get way with almost anything - so the higher number of incarcerated people might actually mean a pretty tough law enforcement / judicial system..http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522087e7ecad042354dc35d0forinfanFri, 30 Aug 2013 07:54:15 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522087e7ecad042354dc35d0
"The way that stores price their products makes no apparent economic sense, and is not linear at all.
For example, at a typical store:
- 1 can of coke : $1.00
- 12 cans of coke : $3.00
- 1 Häagen-Dazs ice cream bar : $3.00
- 12 Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars : $7.00"
I'm always amazed when I'm in Europe that it's the opposite. Things cost more if you buy in bulk. Bulk pricing makes loads of economic sense. The other makes sense only in terms of strict cost-covering. For example, I can buy 1 package of dog treats for a euro, but a box of 3 packs of dog treats costs 3.15 euros. So why buy the 3 pack? Perhaps because it has a handy 0.15 euro box? Ridiculous.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220868b69bedd9f4acc5ba1Right OnFri, 30 Aug 2013 07:48:27 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220868b69bedd9f4acc5ba1
Well put Lakshmi. Indians are so thin-skinned they can't differentiate between an observation and an insult. That's one of the many reasons they never improve. Recognizing, accepting and acknowledging an issue, fault or problem is the first step on the road to improvement.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522084d269bedd3745cc5ba3FloodedFri, 30 Aug 2013 07:41:06 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522084d269bedd3745cc5ba3
Boo-hoo. Go cry me a river.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52207641ecad04fd33dc35d3DMEFri, 30 Aug 2013 06:38:57 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52207641ecad04fd33dc35d3
I think what he is seeing is that we have it A LOT better than India. Nevertheless, he is missing the class distinctions, separate lifestyles and security of the rich vs poor. We do a better job of hiding our inequities. I am not so sure they won't be coming to the surface sometime soon.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52206ff66bb3f7f021da2e64crusader70Fri, 30 Aug 2013 06:12:06 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52206ff66bb3f7f021da2e64
No, just improve its punctuation.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52205ab4ecad04ed75dc35f0Prashanth D'SouzaFri, 30 Aug 2013 04:41:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52205ab4ecad04ed75dc35f0
India fortunately has a very good healthcare system and healthcare is not very expensive as compared to the developed world. Indian doctors are also quite astute and are able to garner good experience with exposure to a wide range of diseases, disorders and different classes of patients. Basic healthcare according to some reports is even better than say, China, when you consider rural areas.
However, rampant capitalization and the resulting insurance madness, have ensured that healthcare prices are on the rise for the last 15 years or so, but without great improvement in the quality of services. It is just expensive because there is insurance and the doctors have started charging hefty fees especially in cities, because these will be covered by the insurance. This leaves the poorer people with lesser options, especially the urban poor.
That being said, there are certain incentives and programmes for the poor that are quite well established and have been running successfully in some parts of the country. It is however, never a consistent picture in India. Some states are very slow on the uptake while some of them are breathtakingly fast, resulting in a better overall system.
The government has started an initiative for free medicines for all who visit a government facility for treatment. The public sector currently serves around 22% of the population, not a small number by any standards. That's about 220 million people, with an aim to increase it to 57% by 2017. Baby steps but the baby is a giant. Two of the states in India, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan already provide free healthcare for all citizens; Tamil Nadu has provided it for the last 15 years or so, and recently has also provided free insurance for all the citizens of the state.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220540decad04e177dc35ccsrslyyepFri, 30 Aug 2013 04:13:01 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220540decad04e177dc35cc
Nope, it just consists of witch doctors and homeopathy, and they are so uneducated they buy into it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52204b33ecad046360ff5321André Kenji De SousaFri, 30 Aug 2013 03:35:15 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52204b33ecad046360ff5321
India I don´t know. But I have several poor friends in Brazil and one issue that we never discuss are problems related to access to health care.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220468c6bb3f7015be58abfLakshmiFri, 30 Aug 2013 03:15:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220468c6bb3f7015be58abf
In no way was this man being disrespectful to India so I feel that the racist comments are unnecessary. There will always be cheaters in every society and just because the indian education system tends to be more competitive at a young age children feel more pressured to find ways to do better than the best. Its similar to capitalism and how often times scams are committed out of pressure more than avarice. Other than that, I think this man's view of America is quite accurate but limited. This is the America seen by those who live here, by those who experience "American Culture". As for the America known to the rest of the world...well thats a different story for later ;)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203ffe6bb3f79545e58ae2André Kenji De SousaFri, 30 Aug 2013 02:47:26 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203ffe6bb3f79545e58ae2
1-) There are billions of people that would like to trade places with me because I´m Middle class, not because I´m American(Which Am Not, unless you are talking about South America or the American Continent). There are not so many people that wants to trade places with the single mother living in the Bronx or in the Mississippi Delta, or with anyone living in Indian reservations in South Dakota.
2-) No, I´m not special.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203d2becad04983dff5340jeffcoqFri, 30 Aug 2013 02:35:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203d2becad04983dff5340
There is a huge underclass in the US. The US does not do a good job at educating poor people. Most poor people come from broken families or single mother households. In some communities, over 80% of the children are born out of wedlock. The problem is mostly hidden due to the high incarceration rate. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Most people dont know this.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203b3a6bb3f7ea38e58acfRoger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 02:27:06 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203b3a6bb3f7ea38e58acf
Americans are cowards. If you ever try to stand up to anyone, they will never have your back. Much of the problem is that they're uneducated and uninformed. They are perfect drones. They just want to go to work and pay themselves enough to live the stereotypical dream, with a wife/husband, nice house, nice car, kids etc. There isn't much going on up in their heads. Just look at their Facebook pictures. Many of them think getting married is like winning the Super Bowl!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203a0d6bb3f7f63ae58ad3Parth VasaFri, 30 Aug 2013 02:22:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203a0d6bb3f7f63ae58ad3
Odds are he gets a job and you will move to India and turn into a hippy smoking weed.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522039ebecad045648ff530fjeffcoqFri, 30 Aug 2013 02:21:31 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522039ebecad045648ff530f
Poverty breeds poverty. The US does not do a good job at educating poor people. Most poor people come from broken families or single mother households. In some communities, over 80% of the children are born out of wedlock. Child abuse is also rampant in poor communities. Most of these poor children are unsupervised and are easy target for gangs. The school system is not good at taking children from broken families and turn them into successful people.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220393a6bb3f7eb38e58ac3Parth VasaFri, 30 Aug 2013 02:18:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220393a6bb3f7eb38e58ac3
After 30 years here what really surprises me is how much of a pushover an average American is. I mean since NAFTA the average American has lost jobs to Mexico, Canada, China, and now India. All this and no major outburst beyond tantrums/rants on the net. The H-1B is not as bad as people think, but outsourcing is far more damaging as it takes jobs away from graduating Americans to graduating foreigners. Nipped in the bud. Most countries would have something called a general student "union" strike. Oh well...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220376c6bb3f7fe3ce58ac2Roger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 02:10:52 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220376c6bb3f7fe3ce58ac2
The tipping thing is absolute garbage. Order the same amount of food, but if it's more expensive, you pay more. It makes no sense. I don't like that at all. It does need to change.
And oh yeah, some of those servers want 20% as tip!!! Some of the crazier ones want even more!
An easy way to add up the tips without a calculator is give 75 cents for every 5 dollars on the bill if you're giving 15 percent, 1 dollar for ever 5 dollars on the bill if you're giving 20 percent. I eat out too much!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220370ceab8ea8517ff533fParth VasaFri, 30 Aug 2013 02:09:16 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220370ceab8ea8517ff533f
I migrated too from India, and the first thing that struck me was people were actually religious and more so than Indians of the big city. People actually went to church on Sundays. You have the Hollywood image of America where everyone is a liberal and basically "progressed" to atheism or agnostics (the Indian colloquial term is "modern").http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220370569bedd121c7c8808DKNYFri, 30 Aug 2013 02:09:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220370569bedd121c7c8808
LOL send this kid back to indiahttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/522033536bb3f7ae38e58abbLi-Jen ChuFri, 30 Aug 2013 01:53:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522033536bb3f7ae38e58abb
What I find is the weirdest part in the US is that each time we went to the restaurant we have to bring a calculator (or phones) because we need to find out what 15% tip is before tax, and every time I worry giving not enough. It makes me want to avoid those restaurants and just go for fast food. The second thing is that I don't understand that as a developed country, why are there so many unhealthy beverages being sold in shops and supermarkets? We all know artificial flavor and colors are not necessary and bad for health, and we all understand that sugar substitutes should be avoided, but they add them anyway. Also in my home country i eat more, but in the US I often can't finish half of the meal because they add too much condiment. I'm sure if they add less the food will taste better, but apparently they have no idea what makes a good diet. 3. In the US many houses have pools in their backyards, and most of the time it's not used by anybody. 4. Temperature control of air-condition is usually set below the comfortable zone. Outside the building is feels like an oven but inside it feels like the fridge.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203215ecad04ed34ff531dRoger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 01:48:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52203215ecad04ed34ff531d
Go to Trivia Night at any bar and you will see how shameless Americans are when it comes to cheating.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522031cfecad041828ff5340Roger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 01:46:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522031cfecad041828ff5340
America is most definitely a stratified country. People aren't brazen about it, but it's increasing by the day.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522031ceecad044139ff530fCheatersFri, 30 Aug 2013 01:46:54 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522031ceecad044139ff530f
I disagree Americans don't cheat. College students these days just cut-paste from the Internet. A huge percentage of them are illiterate. Teachers can't fail half the class and the students know it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522030faecad04fc34ff5313Roger C.Fri, 30 Aug 2013 01:43:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522030faecad04fc34ff5313
I'm sorry, but this guy doesn't really know Americans. He doesn't know what they're really like. As a foreigner that has been better educated, he doesn't see America like the rest of us. People treat him differently, probably are even using him to get better grades! Some of his conclusions are very, very wrong. I don't think he really understands Americans yet.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52202edbeab8ea8106ff5334Li-Jen ChuFri, 30 Aug 2013 01:34:19 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52202edbeab8ea8106ff5334
I have read it, but it praises the US too much and it seems very biased. And what's weird is India, not the US. What I believe this article wants to do is to make Americans feel good about themselves.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52202d1c6bb3f7de29e58ac4ApatFri, 30 Aug 2013 01:26:52 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52202d1c6bb3f7de29e58ac4
And yet Glenn Greenwald want's to destroy America. What a tool.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52202c4aeab8eab00dff5315someoneFri, 30 Aug 2013 01:23:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52202c4aeab8eab00dff5315
Well, the author was talking about "everyone" as a group not as individuals. That's the individualism I understand. Who's Ayn Rand?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52202878eab8ea2179ff5330Don HarderFri, 30 Aug 2013 01:07:04 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52202878eab8ea2179ff5330
No personal servants. Damn. We really need to lower minimum wage and ship a few more jobs overseas so we can live as well as the Indians.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522025b26bb3f70d12e58ac9Buck_ConverterFri, 30 Aug 2013 00:55:14 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522025b26bb3f70d12e58ac9
As a tech intern, you're not expected to know enough to fully do your job so yes, you'll often find folks taking things off your plate if you're behind. Something most folks from India don't quite get for a while is that school prepares you for tech in some ways, but not in most ways that you really work to put out a product. I laugh that maybe 30% of my time is spent on stuff I studied in school, the rest of it is grinding off the rough edges and polishing the product so it's profitable. But the part that's the hard work and boring is the part that's not taught in school, yet it's also the difference between the company making money and going under.
That's why internships are there: to see what you don't know, and to see how you react to what the job really is: making a profitable product. If you can handle the real world rather than just the academic part of the job, and if you can interact well with the team you'll probably get a job offer. If you're snooty and class sensitive and not able to realize that you have to work smoothy even with folks of a different "class", you'll not make it.
For example, I design chips and I do the analog schematic and circuit design, a highly specialized subfield. I can do the physical design part where we turn the schematic symbols into the actual mask shapes that will form the circuit elements, but in general we have specialists who do that part of the job since they're cheaper than me. I've got a Ph.D. and the guy who does the physical part has an Associate's degree. In China or India the idea that I'd listen to the guy with the Associate's and make changes based on what he thinks just isn't credible. Yet what goes out the door is what the physical design guy drew, so if I can do something to improve the product based on what he says you can bet I'll listen. In fact, the more we interact, the better I can tell what the problems we might have are since in some ways he's more familiar with the nitty-gritty implementation details. I still own the overall result, so we have to work together to get the best possible results The idea of a class-based culture in tech is terrible, you need to interact with folks of all stripes to get a real solid product.
And before you folks out there think that paying a tech intern a nearly full salary is wasteful (you generally make the salary of your last degree, or a healthy fraction of your BS), remember that a recruiter will charge a company 25-50% of a candidate's annual salary as a finder's fee. That makes an internship cheap by comparison, and gives the company a far clearer view of the quality of the recruit. I wish more companies would learn to invest more in their interns and emulate what tech internships are like.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522024ca69bedd416a7c880dsabrina sFri, 30 Aug 2013 00:51:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522024ca69bedd416a7c880d
For most folks, instant will do, and instant doesn't take a half an hour to make. You put a pot on, take a shower, make a cup of coffee, do the rest of your grooming, and come back and your cup of coffee has cooled off enough to chug. You chug it down, you run out the door. But even if you don't have the discipline for that, every office I've ever worked in had a coffee maker. Even if it was one of those dingy portable buildings with a moldy AC and a wobbly wooden floor, it had a coffee maker. Employers want you caffeinated, because caffeine makes the business world go round. It is possible to get huge doses of caffeine and never pay a cent.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220234c69bedd2c747c87fbtjnFri, 30 Aug 2013 00:45:00 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220234c69bedd2c747c87fb
Just watch some of these foody network shows and you'll figure out that fat poor people has nothing to do with being poor. It has everything to do with poor food choices and eating too much.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220231d6bb3f70c12e58ac5coolheadFri, 30 Aug 2013 00:44:13 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220231d6bb3f70c12e58ac5
Almost every time I hear my co-workers or friends complain the U.S government to me, I can't help but laugh. They just get "spoiled" and have no idea what a "really bad government" can do things to its people.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522022cb6bb3f71112e58aceAmarpreet SinghFri, 30 Aug 2013 00:42:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522022cb6bb3f71112e58ace
Well said Mr. Chaturvedi .I think most of the points are true facts.I live in India and what the guy has depicted I can feel and imagine the scenario in a very good way.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52201af9eab8eaae61ff532etodddFri, 30 Aug 2013 00:09:29 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52201af9eab8eaae61ff532e
Healthcare.....transportation....really good education...good role models.....safe neighborhoods where you don't get shot in your front yard....good air quality where your kids don't get asthma....and here in Detroit, police protection....
Yeah, other than those things, almost identical to Mitt Romney.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220192feab8ea6a5fff5321todddFri, 30 Aug 2013 00:01:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220192feab8ea6a5fff5321
If you believed everything you say in a Hollywood movie, you'd think a) all American women are easy and b) 60% of the population is Jewish.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522018b7ecad04de02ff5323todddThu, 29 Aug 2013 23:59:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522018b7ecad04de02ff5323
The Chinese that I went to college with, many years ago, were god awful cheaters.
This is so true.
It's the same with Indians. Just interview an Indian for a job and they'll give you 20 people that will lie for them as references.
This is my biggest fear. One of the great pillars of American society has been the Protestant work ethic, the idea of honest work for honest money. It seems like we're deteriorating to a country that doesn't honor hard work and embraces people like Goldman Sachs that make money by essentially stealing.
And I fear as we get more Asia immigrants, that this will only get worse.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522017e7ecad04fe78ff5330cabertosserThu, 29 Aug 2013 23:56:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522017e7ecad04fe78ff5330
Andre, get over it. There are at least 3 billion people in the world who would like to trade places with you. You are very expendable (and we all are; just some of us like to remind ourselves of that from time to time iot keep us humble and others, like you, continue to tune into Oprah to hear her tell you how precious and special you are).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220168c69beddf54d7c8813todddThu, 29 Aug 2013 23:50:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220168c69beddf54d7c8813
And yet India probably has better health care for it's working-class people.
Nothing is more annoying than someone telling a person in poverty in the US that they're better than a bloated-belly starving child in Africa.
There are reasons other than "motivation" that keep people poor in America. Again nothing is more annoying than having some rich puke that went to a decent school, grew up in a good neighborhood, that people are lazy because they don't reach the same plateaus as them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522015e16bb3f7f575e58ad7CThu, 29 Aug 2013 23:47:45 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522015e16bb3f7f575e58ad7
Li-Jen, did you even read the article? The article was written by an Indian, not an Indian American. It doesn't say his family comes from Mumbai--it says he does!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220153cecad04b176ff5324jamesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxThu, 29 Aug 2013 23:45:00 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220153cecad04b176ff5324
Comments about class are especially enlightening.
Especially in the vacuum of the 99%/1% debate - people should grasp that there is little all that money can buy.
Aside from healthcare, lower class (economic) Americans have access to most things.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220138f69bedd52537c87f9rjb_bostonThu, 29 Aug 2013 23:37:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220138f69bedd52537c87f9
astute young manhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/522012e2ecad049774ff5321someoneThu, 29 Aug 2013 23:34:58 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522012e2ecad049774ff5321
They give away junk food and drink to hook you up and you are call them generous?
If you are still gobbling those bottles of coke, stop killing yourself right now.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52200f2569beddec487c87f9the spider manThu, 29 Aug 2013 23:19:01 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52200f2569beddec487c87f9
Hahahah, it's so true. In Asia there is no such thing as a "refill." I got yelled at in a Subway because I was "re-filling" my drink. I was like say wha??? But yeah no place that I have ever been to, even the American fast food places like McDs, KFC, etc allow refills.
Also the Large sodas over there are like a hybrid between small/mediumhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/52200ce5ecad04d167ff5332andrewp111Thu, 29 Aug 2013 23:09:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52200ce5ecad04d167ff5332
This is easily explained
"Obsession with coffee — Starbucks, Dunkin' etc is crowded with office-goers and students every morning. I don't understand why they can't drink or make coffee before leaving for work. Such a waste of money! ($5/day * 5days / week * 52weeks/year)!"
It is about time, not coffee. If you make your own coffee before leaving for work, making the coffee costs you 1/2 hour, and it costs you 2 hours to drink it at home while surfing websites like this one. If you buy your coffee at the cafe at work, you can get in earlier and drink it in front of your desk while you are working on your computer.
And prices of goods can be very non-linear in strange ways. Little-Can (Fancy Feast) costs more per can if you buy the larger sizes (30 or 24 vs 12). Apparently, the bigger boxes have more convenience value, and so they can charge more per can for them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52200a56ecad04fe6dff5319André Kenji De SousaThu, 29 Aug 2013 22:58:30 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/52200a56ecad04fe6dff5319
"Almost every single person in America has access to basic food, clothing, water and sanitation."
No, the biggest difference is that the poor people in the United States are hidden in their own neighborhoods, so, most people do not see them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522009b469bedd00377c8813someoneThu, 29 Aug 2013 22:55:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522009b469bedd00377c8813
Americans and in general westerners are indeed fair minded. They don't like to take sides and form in-groups to gang up on others.
As long as individualism is embraced by most Americans, no one can dismantle it. Capitalism is not really that bad as long as you don't treat money as everything and do treat everyone fairly.
The real danger in America in my view is those brilliant minds trying social programs domestically and military intervention abroad. They could be noble causes but the outcomes would often be unpredictable.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220083269bedd343c7c87faJames1Thu, 29 Aug 2013 22:49:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220083269bedd343c7c87fa
My favorite misconception is that American girls are promiscuous when, in fact, they are among the most prudish in the world ... even when compared to Islamic countries.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522006e76bb3f79b64e58ab8someoneThu, 29 Aug 2013 22:43:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522006e76bb3f79b64e58ab8
"This is different from students from India and China as well as back home in India, where everyone collaborates to the extent that it can be categorized as cheating."
Hey, speak for yourself. I am from China but I've found a lot chances to take a higher moral ground while living in the US.
Americans do not like to cheat but that doesn't mean they don't want to take advantage. The good thing is honesty is indeed the best policy but of course the difficult thing is you still have to make sound judgements.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522006186bb3f7cf64e58ab9André Kenji De SousaThu, 29 Aug 2013 22:40:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522006186bb3f7cf64e58ab9
"This: when you realize that half the world lives in poverty; and a person at the 'poverty' line in the US is probably around top 15-20% income in the world"
That does not mean anything, because there are differences of cost of living and things like that. One dollar in India is worth more than one dollar in New York.
Even calculating things like "purchasing power parity" is very complicated because there are huge differences of prices between different countries - there are countries where electronics are expensive and where food is cheap, and there are countries where electronics are cheap and food is expensive.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522001f0eab8eac234ff531eTruthsayerThu, 29 Aug 2013 22:22:40 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/522001f0eab8eac234ff531e
Definitely a "classless" society.
That said, I am inspired by how this visitor/immigrant sees our country. It is kind of difficult to be proud to be an American these days, as the "idea" of America is systematically dismantled in the name of our safety. But this was a rare moment of "right on."
Capitalism. Capitalism is the reason why the good and the bad things in our country exist. To have the good, you have to have the bad. The plumber driving the sedan is enabled by capitalism. But, so are the banksters, raping main street. Still it's the best system that's come along.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220008feab8ea6626ff5335TommyBoyThu, 29 Aug 2013 22:16:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5220008feab8ea6626ff5335
Good article. I came to this country from China when I was 8 in the 80's (before they turned capitalist) and can totally relate. The one thing you mentioned I always found fascinating is its the poor people that are fat and rich ones thin as a result of the western fast food diet. You certainly don't see poor people in sub-Saharan Africa getting type 2 diabetes from extreme obesity!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/521ffffdeab8ea3132ff531drpThu, 29 Aug 2013 22:14:21 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/521ffffdeab8ea3132ff531d
"•Almost every single person in America has access to basic food, clothing, water and sanitation. I haven't been to states like Louisiana and cities like Detroit, but from what I can tell, nobody is scrambling for the basic necessities required for sustenance. "
This: when you realize that half the world lives in poverty; and a person at the 'poverty' line in the US is probably around top 15-20% income in the world; it becomes very hard to empathize with the segment of American population that don't push their kids in academics (as that's almost a guaranteed way to for them to get out of poverty) and aren't working overtime to provide for their family. The only valid reasons to be on long term government assistance in the US are mental and physical disability. Anything else, and you've failed to take advantage of the system that's in place; or are just purely gaming the system (which should be stopped if lawmakers had any spine).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/521ffb96ecad04e751ff530fGuest500Thu, 29 Aug 2013 21:55:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/521ffb96ecad04e751ff530f
We aren't perfect by any means but his assessments make me feel pretty damn good about being an American.